The imaging equation for a microgrid linear Stokes polarimeter

Abstract

Imaging polarimeters have currently and historically been largely used for remote sensing tasks. They have also been used to evaluate the defects and calibrate the polarization of liquid crystal displays. A particular type of polarimeter that has a great deal of unrealized potential is the microgrid array linear Stokes polarimeter. This type of polarimeter is not often used because of reconstruction errors. If these errors could be minimized, or mitigated via proper algorithmic reconstruction, then they have advantages over other types of polarimeters, mainly calibration (not much is needed) and proper operation over wide wavelength bands (due to the use of wire grid linear polarizers). In the paper I analyze the imaging equation of the microgrid Stokes polarimeter, using the full vectorial electric field. Show more