A white-light snapshot channeled linear imaging (CLI) polarimeter is demonstrated by utilizing polarization gratings (PGs). The CLI polarimeter is capable of measuring the two-dimensional distribution of the linear Stokes polarization parameters by incorporating two identical PGs, in series, along the optical axis. In this configuration, the general optical shearing functionality of a uniaxial crystal-based Savart plate is realized. However, unlike a Savart plate, the diffractive nature of the PGs creates a linear dependence of the shear versus wavelength, thus providing broadband functionality. Consequently, by incorporating the PG-based Savart plate into a Savart plate channeled imaging polarimeter, white-light interference fringes can be generated. This enables polarimetric image data to be acquired at shorter exposure times in daylight conditions, making it more appealing over the quasi-monochromatic channeled imaging polarimeters previously described in the literature. Furthermore, the PG-based device offers significantly more compactness, field of view, optical simplicity, and vibration insensitivity than previously described white-light CLI polarimeters based on Sagnac interferometers. Included in this paper are theoretical descriptions of the linear ( $S_0$ , $S_1$ , and $S_2$ ) and complete ( $S_0$ , $S_1$ , $S_2$ , and $S_3$ ) channeled Stokes imaging polarimeters. Additionally, descriptions of our calibration procedures and our experimental proof of concept CLI system are provided. These are followed by laboratory and outdoor polarimetric measurements of $S_0$ , $S_1$ , and $S_2$ .

© 2011 Optical Society of America

1. J. S. Tyo, D. L. Goldstein, D. B. Chenault, and J. A. Shaw, “Review of passive imaging polarimetry for remote sensing applications,” Appl. Opt. 45, 5453–5469 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. E. R. Cochran and C. Ai, “Interferometric stress birefringence measurement,” Appl. Opt. 31, 6702–6706 (1992). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. K. Oka and T. Kaneko, “Compact complete imaging polarimeter using birefringent wedge prisms,” Opt. Express 11, 1510–1519 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. K. Oka and N. Saito, “Snapshot complete imaging polarimeter using Savart plates,” Proc. SPIE 6295, 629508 (2006). [CrossRef]
5. J. VanDelden, “Interferometric polarization interrogating filter assembly and method,” U.S. patent 6,674,532 B2 (6 January 2004).
6. M. W. Kudenov, M. E. L. Jungwirth, E. L. Dereniak, and G. R. Gerhart, “White light Sagnac interferometer for snapshot linear polarimetric imaging,” Opt. Express 17, 22520–22534(2009). [CrossRef]
7. M. Mujat, E. Baleine, and A. Dogariu, “Interferometric imaging polarimeter,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 21, 2244–2249 (2004). [CrossRef]
8. M. W. Kudenov, L. Pezzaniti, E. L. Dereniak, and G. R. Gerhart, “Prismatic imaging polarimeter calibration for the infrared spectral region,” Opt. Express 16, 13720–13737(2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. K. Oka, R. Suda, M. Ohnuki, D. Miller, and E. L. Dereniak, “Snapshot imaging polarimeter for polychromatic light using Savart plates and diffractive lenses,” in Frontiers in Optics, OSA Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2009), paper FThF4.
10. C. Oh, J. Kim, J. F. Muth, S. Serati, and M. J. Escuti, “High-throughput, continuous beam steering using rotating polarization gratings,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 22, 200–202 (2010). [CrossRef]
11. J. C. Wyant, “OTF measurements with a white light source: an interferometric technique,” Appl. Opt. 14, 1613–1615 (1975). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
12. L. Nikolova and T. Todorov, “Diffraction efficiency and selectivity of polarization holographic recording,” Opt. Acta 31, 579–588 (1984). [CrossRef]
13. J. Tervo and J. Turunen, “Paraxial-domain diffractive elements with 100% efficiency based on polarization gratings,” Opt. Lett. 25, 785–786 (2000). [CrossRef]
14. C. Oh and M. J. Escuti, “Numerical analysis of polarization gratings using the finite-difference time-domain method,” Phys. Rev. A 76, 043815 (2007). [CrossRef]
15. C. Oh and M. J. Escuti, “Achromatic diffraction from polarization gratings with high efficiency,” Opt. Lett. 33, 2287–2289(2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
16. G. P. Crawford, J. N. Eakin, M. D. Radcliffe, A. C. Jones, and R. A. Pelcovits, “Liquid-crystal diffraction gratings using polarization holography alignment techniques,” J. Appl. Phys. 98, 123102 (2005). [CrossRef]
17. M. J. Escuti, C. Oh, C. Sanchez, C. W. M. Bastiaansen, and D. J. Broer, “Simplified spectropolarimetry using reactive mesogen polarization gratings,” Proc. SPIE 6302, 630207(2006). [CrossRef]
18. R. K. Komanduri, W. M. Jones, C. Oh, and M. J. Escuti, “Polarization-independent modulation for projection displays using small-period LC polarization gratings,” J. Soc. Inf. Disp. 15, 589–594 (2007). [CrossRef]
19. S. Pancharatnam, “Generalized theory of interference, and its applications. Part I. Coherent pencils,” Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. A 44, 247–262 (1956).
20. M. V. Berry, “The adiabatic phase and Pancharatnam’s phase for polarized light,” J. Mod. Opt. 34, 1401–1407 (1987). [CrossRef]
21. D. Goldstein, Polarized Light (Marcel Dekker, 2003). [CrossRef]
22. J. Craven and M. W. Kudenov, “False signature reduction in channeled spectropolarimetry,” Opt. Eng. 49, 053602 (2010). [CrossRef]
23. J. S. Tyo, E. N. Pugh, and N. Engheta, “Colorimetric representations for use with polarization-difference imaging of objects in scattering media,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 15, 367–374(1998). [CrossRef]

Appl. Opt.

• J. S. Tyo, D. L. Goldstein, D. B. Chenault, and J. A. Shaw, “Review of passive imaging polarimetry for remote sensing applications,” Appl. Opt. 45, 5453–5469 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• E. R. Cochran and C. Ai, “Interferometric stress birefringence measurement,” Appl. Opt. 31, 6702–6706 (1992). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• J. C. Wyant, “OTF measurements with a white light source: an interferometric technique,” Appl. Opt. 14, 1613–1615 (1975). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett.

• C. Oh, J. Kim, J. F. Muth, S. Serati, and M. J. Escuti, “High-throughput, continuous beam steering using rotating polarization gratings,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 22, 200–202 (2010). [CrossRef]

J. Appl. Phys.

• G. P. Crawford, J. N. Eakin, M. D. Radcliffe, A. C. Jones, and R. A. Pelcovits, “Liquid-crystal diffraction gratings using polarization holography alignment techniques,” J. Appl. Phys. 98, 123102 (2005). [CrossRef]

J. Mod. Opt.

• M. V. Berry, “The adiabatic phase and Pancharatnam’s phase for polarized light,” J. Mod. Opt. 34, 1401–1407 (1987). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am. A

• J. S. Tyo, E. N. Pugh, and N. Engheta, “Colorimetric representations for use with polarization-difference imaging of objects in scattering media,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 15, 367–374(1998). [CrossRef]
• M. Mujat, E. Baleine, and A. Dogariu, “Interferometric imaging polarimeter,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 21, 2244–2249 (2004). [CrossRef]

J. Soc. Inf. Disp.

• R. K. Komanduri, W. M. Jones, C. Oh, and M. J. Escuti, “Polarization-independent modulation for projection displays using small-period LC polarization gratings,” J. Soc. Inf. Disp. 15, 589–594 (2007). [CrossRef]

Opt. Acta

• L. Nikolova and T. Todorov, “Diffraction efficiency and selectivity of polarization holographic recording,” Opt. Acta 31, 579–588 (1984). [CrossRef]

Opt. Eng.

• J. Craven and M. W. Kudenov, “False signature reduction in channeled spectropolarimetry,” Opt. Eng. 49, 053602 (2010). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• M. W. Kudenov, L. Pezzaniti, E. L. Dereniak, and G. R. Gerhart, “Prismatic imaging polarimeter calibration for the infrared spectral region,” Opt. Express 16, 13720–13737(2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• M. W. Kudenov, M. E. L. Jungwirth, E. L. Dereniak, and G. R. Gerhart, “White light Sagnac interferometer for snapshot linear polarimetric imaging,” Opt. Express 17, 22520–22534(2009). [CrossRef]
• K. Oka and T. Kaneko, “Compact complete imaging polarimeter using birefringent wedge prisms,” Opt. Express 11, 1510–1519 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• J. Tervo and J. Turunen, “Paraxial-domain diffractive elements with 100% efficiency based on polarization gratings,” Opt. Lett. 25, 785–786 (2000). [CrossRef]
• C. Oh and M. J. Escuti, “Achromatic diffraction from polarization gratings with high efficiency,” Opt. Lett. 33, 2287–2289(2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Rev. A

• C. Oh and M. J. Escuti, “Numerical analysis of polarization gratings using the finite-difference time-domain method,” Phys. Rev. A 76, 043815 (2007). [CrossRef]

Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. A

• S. Pancharatnam, “Generalized theory of interference, and its applications. Part I. Coherent pencils,” Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. A 44, 247–262 (1956).

Proc. SPIE

• M. J. Escuti, C. Oh, C. Sanchez, C. W. M. Bastiaansen, and D. J. Broer, “Simplified spectropolarimetry using reactive mesogen polarization gratings,” Proc. SPIE 6302, 630207(2006). [CrossRef]
• K. Oka and N. Saito, “Snapshot complete imaging polarimeter using Savart plates,” Proc. SPIE 6295, 629508 (2006). [CrossRef]

Other

• J. VanDelden, “Interferometric polarization interrogating filter assembly and method,” U.S. patent 6,674,532 B2 (6 January 2004).
• K. Oka, R. Suda, M. Ohnuki, D. Miller, and E. L. Dereniak, “Snapshot imaging polarimeter for polychromatic light using Savart plates and diffractive lenses,” in Frontiers in Optics, OSA Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2009), paper FThF4.
• D. Goldstein, Polarized Light (Marcel Dekker, 2003). [CrossRef]

Click here to see a list of articles that cite this paper

Related Journal Articles

• Spectral calibration requirement for Earth-looking imaging spectrometers in the solar-reflected spectrum (AO)
• OH absorption spectroscopy in a flame using spatial heterodyne spectroscopy (AO)
• White light Sagnac interferometer for snapshot linear polarimetric imaging (OE)
• White-light Sagnac interferometer for snapshot multispectral imaging (AO)
• Spectrum reconstruction based on the constrained optimal linear inverse methods (OL)

Related Conference Papers

• Design and analysis of photonic crystal spectral diversity filters for biosensing
• High-Precision Measurements of Reflectance
• Programmable optical wavelength filter based on diffraction from a 2-D MEMS micromirror array
• A MEMS-based Fourier Transform Spectrometer
• Fourier Transform Spectrometry: the SNR disadvantage of the multiplex architecture