Simple detection of light polarization by using crossed polarization gratings

A simple procedure to detect light polarization by use of crossed polarization gratings in photo-cross-linkable liquid crystals is presented. Crossed polarization gratings consisting of four anisotropic gratings with different grating vectors were designed according to the theoretical expectation obtained on the basis of the Jones calculus, and fabricated by means of multiple holographic recording. The polarization state of the incident beam was estimated by measuring the intensity of the diffracted beams, and by analyzing them on the basis of Jones calculus. The presented result, which requires no mechanical driver to rotate the polarizing prisms, provides a high-speed detection system for light polarization. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.