Study on compensation method of beam deviation in division of time imaging polarimetry

Abstract

In the division of time imaging polarimetry, polarization information of field under measurement (I, Q, U), is obtained by rotating the analyzer. In the process of measurement, the beam deviation caused by the wedge of the analyzer reduces the spatial resolution and polarization accuracy of imaging polarimetry. In this paper we present that the beam deviation above can be reduced or even compensated for by adjusting the tilt angle of analyzer with respect to the incident optical axis. Taking Glan prism as the analyzer, we establish the first-order approximate compensation model of beam deviation based on the theory of geometric optics, acquiring the function relation between the tilt angle and wedge of Glan prism, and verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the compensation method by simulation. The study shows that the first-order approximation error of beam deviation can be compensated for by adjusting the tilt angle of Glan prism if only Glan prism is placed in a convergent beam; the tilt angle is proportional to Glan prism wedge angle, refractive index, and distance to CCD, but inversely proportional to Glan prism thickness. The results provide a theoretical basis for developing the time division imaging polarimetry with high spatial resolution and polarization accuracy.