Real-time full Stokes quantitative imaging with a pixelated polarization camera

Abstract

Abstract We propose and experimentally demonstrate a quantitative full Stokes parameter extraction system to address the intrinsic constraints of conventional polarization imaging systems regarding real-time-imaging and characterization of polarization features. The simultaneous extraction of all four Stokes parameters is employed by designing a compact optical scheme with two equal intensity parallelly propagating polarized beams generated prior to the detection with a polarization camera. Moreover, the approach utilizes the polarization multiplexing feature of the pixelated camera for the design of the real-time full Stokes parameter extraction system. The stability and reliability of the system are verified through rigorous testing on standard half-wave plates and quarter wave plates. Additionally, the quantitative imaging capability of the technique is tested with a standard birefringent resolution target. Finally, the efficacy of the approach in real-time imaging and characterization is demonstrated by extracting the polarization dynamics of an object coded on a liquid crystal panel.