Full Stokes Polarization Imaging Based on Broadband Liquid Crystal Polarization Gratings

Abstract

A method for full Stokes polarization imaging based on broadband liquid crystal polarization grating (LCPG) is presented. Firstly, the properties of the LCPG-based polarization detection module, which consists of a phase retarder and a broadband polarization grating in series, were investigated by means of Stokes calculus. The relationship between the polarization state of the incidence and the efficiencies of the diffractions was derived. Then, the azimuth parameters of the polarization detection module were optimized by using an equally weighted variance (EWV) evaluation criterion. Finally, the detection of the linearly and arbitrarily polarized laser beam and a linearly polarized broadband object were experimentally verified. The proposed method provides the design of polarization imaging systems based on LCPGs and has the advantages of compact structure, and broad wavelength coverage, therefore offering potential applications for image polarization information acquisition.