Definition of an error map for DoFP polarimetric images and its application to retardance calibration

Abstract

With the recent development of division of focal plane (DoFP) polarization sensors, it is possible to perform polarimetric analysis of a scene with a reduced number of acquisitions. One drawback of these sensors is that polarization estimation can be perturbed by the spatial variations of the scene. We thus propose a method to compute a map that indicates where polarization estimation can be trusted in the image. It is based on two criteria: the consistency between the intensity measurements inside a super-pixel and the detection of spatial intensity variations. We design both criteria so that a constant false alarm rate can be set. We demonstrate the benefit of this method to improve the precision of dynamic retardance calibration of DoFP-based full Stokes imaging systems.