Open AccessSingle-pulse, Kerr-effect Mueller matrix LiDAR polarimeter
Author(s) -
Christian Keyser,
Richard R. Martin,
Helena Lopez-Aviles,
Khanh Nguyen,
Arielle M. Adams,
Demetrios N. Christodoulides
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.388565
Subject(s) - polarimeter , optics , birefringence , polarization (electrochemistry) , kerr effect , stokes parameters , physics , polarimetry , mueller calculus , orthogonal polarization spectral imaging , lidar , materials science , scattering , laser , chemistry , nonlinear system , quantum mechanics
We present a novel light detection and ranging (LiDAR) polarimeter that enables measurement of 12 of 16 sample Mueller matrix elements in a single, 10 ns pulse. The new polarization state generator (PSG) leverages Kerr phase modulation in a birefringent optical fiber, creating a probe pulse characterized by temporally varying polarization. Theoretical expressions for the Polarization State Generator (PSG) Stokes vector are derived for birefringent walk-off and no walk-off and incorporated into a time-dependent polarimeter signal model employing multiple polarization state analyzers (PSA). Polarimeter modeling compares the Kerr effect and electro-optic phase modulator-based PSG using a single Polarization State Analyzer (PSA) and a scattering sample yielding similarly good performance for both. We include results from an experimental demonstration of the Kerr effect PSG.