We address the optimization of Mueller polarimeters in the presence of additive Gaussian noise and signal-dependent shot noise, which are two dominant types of noise in most imaging systems. We propose polarimeter architectures in which the noise variances on each coefficient of the Mueller matrix are equalized and independent of the observed matrices.

© 2012 OSA

1. B. Laude-Boulesteix, A. De Martino, B. Drévillon, and L. Schwartz, “Mueller Polarimetric Imaging System with Liquid Crystals,” Appl. Opt.43(14), 2824–2832 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. K. M. Twietmeyer and R. A. Chipman, “Optimization of Mueller matrix polarimeters in the presence of error sources,” Opt. Express16, 11589–11603 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. R. M. A. Azzam, I. M. Elminyawi, and A. M. El-Saba, “General analysis and optimization of the four-detector photopolarimeter,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A5, 681–689 (1988). [CrossRef]
4. J. S. Tyo, “Design of optimal polarimeters: maximization of signal-to-noise ratio and minimization of systematic error,” Appl. Opt.41, 619–630 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. J. Zallat, S. Ainouz, and M. P. Stoll, “Optimal configurations for imaging polarimeters: impact of image noise and systematic errors,” J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt.8, 807–814 (2006). [CrossRef]
6. M. H. Smith, “Optimization of a dual-rotating-retarder Mueller matrix polarimeter,” Appl. Opt.41, 2488–2493 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
7. A. D. Martino, Y.-K. Kim, E. Garcia-Caurel, B. Laude, and B. Drévillon, “Optimized Mueller polarimeter with liquid crystals,” Opt. Lett.28, 616–618 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. P. Lemaillet, S. Rivet, and B. L. Jeune, “Optimization of a snapshot Mueller matrix polarimeter,” Opt. Lett.33, 144–146 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. P. A. Letnes, I. S. Nerbø, L. M. S. Aas, P. G. Ellingsen, and M. Kildemo, “Fast and optimal broad-band Stokes/Mueller polarimeter design by the use of a genetic algorithm,” Opt. Express18, 23,095–23,103 (2010). [CrossRef]
10. Y. Takakura and J. E. Ahmad, “Noise distribution of Mueller matrices retrieved with active rotating polarimeters,” Appl. Opt.46, 7354–7364 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. F. Goudail, “Noise minimization and equalization for Stokes polarimeters in the presence of signal-dependent Poisson shot noise,” Opt. Lett.34, 647–649 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
12. A. Ambirajan and D. C. Look, “Optimum angles for a polarimeter: part II,” Opt. Eng.34, 1656–1658 (1995). [CrossRef]
13. J. S. Tyo, “Noise equalization in Stokes parameter images obtained by use of variable-retardance polarimeters,” Opt. Lett.25, 1198–1200 (2000). [CrossRef]
14. A. N. Langvillea and W. J. Stewart, “The Kronecker product and stochastic automata networks,” J. Comp. Appl. Math.167, 429–447 (2004). [CrossRef]
15. S. Lu and R. A. Chipman, “Interpretation of Mueller matrices based on polar decomposition,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A13, 1106–1113 (1996). [CrossRef]

Appl. Opt.

• B. Laude-Boulesteix, A. De Martino, B. Drévillon, and L. Schwartz, “Mueller Polarimetric Imaging System with Liquid Crystals,” Appl. Opt.43(14), 2824–2832 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• J. S. Tyo, “Design of optimal polarimeters: maximization of signal-to-noise ratio and minimization of systematic error,” Appl. Opt.41, 619–630 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• M. H. Smith, “Optimization of a dual-rotating-retarder Mueller matrix polarimeter,” Appl. Opt.41, 2488–2493 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• Y. Takakura and J. E. Ahmad, “Noise distribution of Mueller matrices retrieved with active rotating polarimeters,” Appl. Opt.46, 7354–7364 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

J. Comp. Appl. Math.

• A. N. Langvillea and W. J. Stewart, “The Kronecker product and stochastic automata networks,” J. Comp. Appl. Math.167, 429–447 (2004). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt.

• J. Zallat, S. Ainouz, and M. P. Stoll, “Optimal configurations for imaging polarimeters: impact of image noise and systematic errors,” J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt.8, 807–814 (2006). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am. A

• R. M. A. Azzam, I. M. Elminyawi, and A. M. El-Saba, “General analysis and optimization of the four-detector photopolarimeter,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A5, 681–689 (1988). [CrossRef]
• S. Lu and R. A. Chipman, “Interpretation of Mueller matrices based on polar decomposition,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A13, 1106–1113 (1996). [CrossRef]

Opt. Eng.

• A. Ambirajan and D. C. Look, “Optimum angles for a polarimeter: part II,” Opt. Eng.34, 1656–1658 (1995). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• P. A. Letnes, I. S. Nerbø, L. M. S. Aas, P. G. Ellingsen, and M. Kildemo, “Fast and optimal broad-band Stokes/Mueller polarimeter design by the use of a genetic algorithm,” Opt. Express18, 23,095–23,103 (2010). [CrossRef]
• K. M. Twietmeyer and R. A. Chipman, “Optimization of Mueller matrix polarimeters in the presence of error sources,” Opt. Express16, 11589–11603 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• A. D. Martino, Y.-K. Kim, E. Garcia-Caurel, B. Laude, and B. Drévillon, “Optimized Mueller polarimeter with liquid crystals,” Opt. Lett.28, 616–618 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• P. Lemaillet, S. Rivet, and B. L. Jeune, “Optimization of a snapshot Mueller matrix polarimeter,” Opt. Lett.33, 144–146 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• J. S. Tyo, “Noise equalization in Stokes parameter images obtained by use of variable-retardance polarimeters,” Opt. Lett.25, 1198–1200 (2000). [CrossRef]
• F. Goudail, “Noise minimization and equalization for Stokes polarimeters in the presence of signal-dependent Poisson shot noise,” Opt. Lett.34, 647–649 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

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