Mueller matrix imaging with a polarization camera: application to microscopy

In this work, we describe the design and implementation of a Mueller matrix imaging polarinaeter that uses a polarization camera as a detector. This camera simultaneously measures the first three Stokes components, allowing for the top three rows of the Mueller matrix to be determined after only N = 4 measurements using a single rotating compensator, which is sufficient to fully characterize nondepolarizing samples. This setup provides the polarimetric analysis with micrometric resolution in about 3 seconds and can also perform live birefringence imaging at the camera frame rate by fixing the compensator at a static 45 degrees angle. To further improve the conditioning of the setup, we also give the first experimental demonstration of an optimal elliptical retarder design. (C) 2021 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement

Automated summary

This work presents the design and implementation of a Mueller matrix imaging polarimeter that uses a polarization camera as a detector. The setup provides polarimetric analysis with micrometric resolution and can perform live birefringence imaging. By using a single rotating compensator, the top three rows of the Mueller matrix can be determined after only a few measurements.