Imaging linear polarimetry using a single ferroelectric liquid crystal modulator

Luc Gendre (1) , Alban Foulonneau (1) , Laurent Bigue (1)

1 MIPS - Modélisation, Intelligence, Processus et Système

In the field of polarimetry, ferroelectric liquid crystal cells are mostly used as bistable polarization rotators suitable to analyze crossed polarizations. This paper shows that, provided such a cell is used at its nominal wavelength and correctly driven, its behavior is close to that of a tunable half-wave plate, and it can be used with much benefit in lightweight imaging polarimetric setups. A partial Stokes polarimeter using a single digital video camera and a single ferroelectric liquid crystal modulator is designed and implemented for linear polarization analysis. Polarization azimuthal angle and degree of linear polarization are available at 150 frames per second with a good accuracy.

Domaines: Optique / photonique

Luc Gendre, Alban Foulonneau, Laurent Bigue. Imaging linear polarimetry using a single ferroelectric liquid crystal modulator. Applied optics, 2010, 49 (25), pp.4687-4699. ⟨10.1364/AO.49.004687⟩. ⟨hal-00828109⟩