We derive a generalized theory of a dual photoelastic modulator system designed for the measurement of the Stokes parameters of an arbitrary light beam. Based on the theory, a critique of various potential configurations that could be used to effect such measurements is presented. A calibration procedure for the entire optical system is introduced which, among other things, renders a knowledge of the frequency response of the detector system unnecessary. An analysis of the errors due to incorrect setting of optical components is presented for some of the more practical cases. This allows an assessment of the relative merit of different experimental configurations.
REFERENCES
1.
M.
Born
and E.
Wolf
, Principles of Optics
, 7th ed. (Cambridge University Press
, Cambridge
, 1999
).2.
3.
B.
Daino
, G.
Gregori
, and S.
Wabnitz
, J. Appl. Phys.
58
, 4512
(1985
).4.
J. C.
Kemp
, G. D.
Henson
, C. T.
Steiner
, and E. R.
Powell
, Nature (London)
326
, 270
(1987
).5.
M.
Cherchi
, Appl. Opt.
42
, 7141
(2003
).6.
7.
Y. W.
Liu
, G. A.
Jones
, Y.
Peng
, and T. H.
Shen
, J. Appl. Phys.
100
, 063537
(2006
).8.
G. R.
Boyer
, B. F.
Lamouroux
, and B. S.
Prade
, Appl. Opt.
18
, 1217
(1979
).9.
10.
11.
Y.
Liu
, Ph.D. thesis, University of Salford
, 2005
.12.
D. S.
Kliger
, J. W.
Lewis
, and C. E.
Randall
, Polarized Light in Optics and Spectroscopy
(Academic
, Boston
, 1990
).13.
H. G.
Tompkins
and E. A.
Irene
, Handbook of Ellipsometry
(Springer
, Norwich, NY
, 2005
).14.
I. A.
Stegun
, Handbook of Mathematical Functions, with Formulas, Graphs, and Mathematical Tables
, 10th ed. (Wiley
, New York
, 1972
).15.
M.
Kuldkepp
, N. C.
Hawkes
, E.
Rachlew
, and B.
Schunke
, Appl. Opt.
44
, 5899
(2005
).16.
T.
Oakberg
, “Stokes Polarimetry Application note
,” Hinds Instruments, Application Note, 2005
.17.
F. A.
Modine
, G. E.
Jellison
, and G. R.
Gruzalski
, J. Opt. Soc. Am.
73
, 892
(1983
).18.
J.
Badoz
, M. P.
Silverman
, and J. C.
Canit
, J. Opt. Soc. Am. A
7
, 672
(1990
).© 2008 American Institute of Physics.
2008
American Institute of Physics
You do not currently have access to this content.