Measurement errors induced by retardance deviation in a rotatable retarder fixed polarizer Stokes polarimeter

Hui Dong; Yandong Gong; Perry P. Shum; Qizhen Sun

doi:10.1117/1.OE.51.3.033001

8 March 2012 Measurement errors induced by retardance deviation in a rotatable retarder fixed polarizer Stokes polarimeter

Hui Dong, Yandong Gong, Perry P. Shum, Qizhen Sun

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 51, Issue 3, 033001 (March 2012). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.51.3.033001

Abstract

The retardance of an achromatic retarder may vary in the working frequency range and therefore deviate from its nominal value. In a rotatable retarder and fixed polarizer (RRFP) Stokes polarimeter, the retardance deviation of the retarder will result in significant measurement errors of the Stokes vector. The relationship between the retardance error and the measurement errors is theoretically derived in a RRFP Stokes polarimeter. Theoretical results show that the resultant measurement errors of the Stokes vector are determined by the retardance of the retarder, the retardance error and the Stokes vector under test, but are independent of the angular orientations of the retarder and the intensity measurements. Such measurement errors can not be reduced by choosing a set of optimum angular orientations or increasing the measurement number. To suppress such measurement errors in a complete RRFP Stokes polarimeter, the retarder with retardance from 110-deg to 135-deg is recommended. Simulation results in two measurement scenarios confirm the validity of the theoretical findings.

Citation Download Citation

Hui Dong, Yandong Gong, Perry P. Shum, and Qizhen Sun "Measurement errors induced by retardance deviation in a rotatable retarder fixed polarizer Stokes polarimeter," Optical Engineering 51(3), 033001 (8 March 2012). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.51.3.033001

Published: 8 March 2012

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available