Canonical forms of depolarizing Mueller matrices
JOSA A, Vol. 27, Issue 1, pp. 123-130 (2010)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/JOSAA.27.000123
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Abstract
It is shown that any depolarizing Mueller matrix can be reduced, through a product decomposition, to one of a total of two canonical depolarizer forms, a diagonal and a non-diagonal one. As a consequence, depolarizing Mueller matrices can be divided into Stokes diagonalizable and Stokes non-diagonalizable ones. Properties characteristic of the two canonical depolarizers are identified and discussed. Both canonical depolarizer forms are illustrated in experimental examples taken from the literature.
© 2009 Optical Society of America
OCIS Codes
(230.5440) Optical devices : Polarization-selective devices
(260.2130) Physical optics : Ellipsometry and polarimetry
(260.5430) Physical optics : Polarization
ToC Category:
Physical Optics
History
Original Manuscript: September 22, 2009
Revised Manuscript: November 5, 2009
Manuscript Accepted: November 11, 2009
Published: December 23, 2009
Citation
Razvigor Ossikovski, "Canonical forms of depolarizing Mueller matrices," J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 27, 123-130 (2010)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/josaa/abstract.cfm?URI=josaa-27-1-123
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