Compact and static Fourier transform imaging spectropolarimeters using birefringent elements

Abstract

Three compact and static birefringent Fourier transform imaging spectropolarimeters are presented. They based on the different combinations of birefringent elements, including Savart polariscope, Wollaston prism, achromatic half-wave plate and quarter-wave plate. After acquiring several interferograms simultaneously for different polarization states with a single CCD, the spectral dependence of polarization states are recovered with Fourier transformation. The interference models are described theoretically, and the performances are demonstrated through numerical simulations and experiments. In contrast to the well-known channeled spectropolarimetry, the most important advantages are that the sampling interferograms have no channel aliasing and directly correspond to the maximum optical path difference of birefringent interferometer. That is say, they can recover the spectral variation of polarization state with the interferometer’s maximum spectral resolution.