Liquid-crystal based drift-free polarization modulators: Part II. Ultra-stable Stokes and Mueller polarimeters

Abstract

We have previously reported a new design for drift-free liquid-crystal polarization modulators (LCMs) based on liquid-crystal variable retarders (LCVRs). Here, we study their performance on Stokes and Mueller polarimeters. LCMs have polarimetric responses similar to LCVRs and can be used as temperature-stable alternatives to many LCVR-based polarimeters. We have built an LCM-based polarization state analyzer (PSA) and compared its performance to an equivalent LCVR-based PSA. Our system parameters remained stable over a wide range of temperature, precisely from 25°C to 50°C. Accurate Stokes and Mueller measurements have been conducted, paving the way to calibration-free polarimeters for demanding applications.