Optical polarimeter

摘要

A polarimeter is proposed that utilizes additional Stokes parameter measurements to determine both an average Stokes vector, as well as any rotation of the state of polarization around the Stokes vector. The optical polarimeter is configured to measure the state of polarization (SOP) under multiple, different conditions that yield both averaged Stokes vector and at least one other secondary (filtered) Stokes vector, the latter thus being determined from a subset of the conditions used to create the average Stokes vector. The secondary Stokes vector created from a filtered input will necessarily exhibit changes over time as a function of polarization transformations (based on filter-dependent changes), while the average Stokes vector will retain a constant value. Thus, a comparison of the average Stokes vector to the changing secondary Stokes vector allows for these polarization-dependent transformations to be recognized.

主权项

1. An optical polarimeter for identifying polarization transformations in a propagating optical signal, the optical polarimeter comprising
a first Stokes measurement arrangement configured to create, as a first Stokes component, an average Stokes vector S defining a state of polarization of an optical signal propagating along an optical signal path; and a second Stokes measurement arrangement including at least one filtering element, the second Stokes measurement arrangement configured to create a second Stokes component that is modified by the presence of the at least one filtering element such that the second Stokes component is a subset of the average Stokes vector S, wherein the combination of the average Stokes vector S and the second Stokes component provides information regarding polarization transformations in the propagating optical signal.