We describe and analyze a method by which an optical polarization state is mapped to an image sensor. When placed in a Bayesian framework, the analysis allows a priori information about the polarization state to be introduced into the measurement. We show that when such a measurement is applied to a single photon, it eliminates exactly one fully polarized state, offering an important insight about the information gained from a single photon polarization measurement.

© 2013 OSA

1. C.A. Skinner, “The polarimeter and its practical applications,” J. Franklin Inst.196, 721–750 (1923). [CrossRef]
2. E. Collett, Polarized Light: Fundamentals and Applications (CRC Press, 1992).
3. R. Azzam, “Arrangement of four photodetectors for measuring the state of polarization of light,” Opt. Lett.10, 309–311 (1985). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. H. Luo, K. Oka, E. DeHoog, M. Kudenov, J. Schwegerling, and E. L. Dereniak, “Compact and miniature snapshot imaging polarimeter,” Appl. Opt.47, 4413–4417 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. J. Guo and D. Brady, “Fabrication of thin-film micropolarizer arrays for visible imaging polarimetry,” Appl. Opt.39, 1486–1492 (2000). [CrossRef]
6. J. Tyo, D. Goldstein, D. Chenault, and J. Shaw, “Review of passive imaging polarimetry for remote sensing applications,” Appl. Opt.45, 5453–5469 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
7. F. Gori, “Measuring Stokes parameters by means of a polarization grating,” Opt. Lett.24,584–586 (1999). [CrossRef]
8. W. Sparks, T. Germer, J. MacKenty, and F. Snik, “Compact and robust method for full Stokes spectropolarimetry,” Appl. Opt.51, 5495–5511 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. A. K. Spilman and T. G. Brown, “Stress-induced focal splitting,” Opt. Express15, 8411–8421 (2007), http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-15-13-8411 . [CrossRef] [PubMed]
10. A. K. Spilman and T. G. Brown, “Stress birefringent, space-variant wave plates for vortex illumination,” Appl. Opt.26, 61–66 (2007), http://ao.osa.org/abstract.cfm?id=119864 . [CrossRef]
11. A. M. Beckley, T. G. Brown, and M. A. Alonso, “Full Poincaré beams,” Opt. Express18, 10777–10785 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
12. R. D. Ramkhalawon, A. M. Beckley, and T. G. Brown, “Star test polarimetry using stress-engineered optical elements,” Proc. Spie8227, 82270Q–82270Q-8 (2012). [CrossRef]
13. D. F. V. James, P. G. Kwiat, W. J. Munro, and A. G. White, “Measurement of qubits,” Phys. Rev. A.64, 052312–27 (2001). [CrossRef]

Alonso, M. A.
Azzam, R.
Beckley, A. M.
Brady, D.
Brown, T. G.
Chenault, D.
Collett, E.
DeHoog, E.
Dereniak, E. L.
Germer, T.
Goldstein, D.
Gori, F.
Guo, J.
James, D. F. V.
Kudenov, M.
Kwiat, P. G.
Luo, H.
MacKenty, J.
Munro, W. J.
Oka, K.
Ramkhalawon, R. D.
Schwegerling, J.
Shaw, J.
Skinner, C.A.
Snik, F.
Sparks, W.
Spilman, A. K.
Tyo, J.
White, A. G.

Appl. Opt.

• H. Luo, K. Oka, E. DeHoog, M. Kudenov, J. Schwegerling, and E. L. Dereniak, “Compact and miniature snapshot imaging polarimeter,” Appl. Opt.47, 4413–4417 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• J. Guo and D. Brady, “Fabrication of thin-film micropolarizer arrays for visible imaging polarimetry,” Appl. Opt.39, 1486–1492 (2000). [CrossRef]
• J. Tyo, D. Goldstein, D. Chenault, and J. Shaw, “Review of passive imaging polarimetry for remote sensing applications,” Appl. Opt.45, 5453–5469 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• W. Sparks, T. Germer, J. MacKenty, and F. Snik, “Compact and robust method for full Stokes spectropolarimetry,” Appl. Opt.51, 5495–5511 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

J. Franklin Inst.

• C.A. Skinner, “The polarimeter and its practical applications,” J. Franklin Inst.196, 721–750 (1923). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• A. K. Spilman and T. G. Brown, “Stress-induced focal splitting,” Opt. Express15, 8411–8421 (2007), http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-15-13-8411 . [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. M. Beckley, T. G. Brown, and M. A. Alonso, “Full Poincaré beams,” Opt. Express18, 10777–10785 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• R. Azzam, “Arrangement of four photodetectors for measuring the state of polarization of light,” Opt. Lett.10, 309–311 (1985). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• F. Gori, “Measuring Stokes parameters by means of a polarization grating,” Opt. Lett.24,584–586 (1999). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. A.

• D. F. V. James, P. G. Kwiat, W. J. Munro, and A. G. White, “Measurement of qubits,” Phys. Rev. A.64, 052312–27 (2001). [CrossRef]

Proc. Spie

• R. D. Ramkhalawon, A. M. Beckley, and T. G. Brown, “Star test polarimetry using stress-engineered optical elements,” Proc. Spie8227, 82270Q–82270Q-8 (2012). [CrossRef]

Other

• A. K. Spilman and T. G. Brown, “Stress birefringent, space-variant wave plates for vortex illumination,” Appl. Opt.26, 61–66 (2007), http://ao.osa.org/abstract.cfm?id=119864 . [CrossRef]
• E. Collett, Polarized Light: Fundamentals and Applications (CRC Press, 1992).

2012, Ramkhalawon, Proc. Spie
2012, Sparks, Appl. Opt.
2010, Beckley, Opt. Express
2008, Luo, Appl. Opt.
2007, Spilman, Opt. Express
2006, Tyo, Appl. Opt.
2001, James, Phys. Rev. A.
2000, Guo, Appl. Opt.
1999, Gori, Opt. Lett.
1985, Azzam, Opt. Lett.
1923, Skinner, J. Franklin Inst.

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