PHOTOPOLARIMETERS AND SPECTROPHOTOPOLARIMATERS WITH MULTIPLE DIFFRACTION GRATINGS

摘要

In a device for measuring the complete polarization state of light over a spectral bandwidth, an optical input signal 41 with wavelengths of light within a spectral band is incident on two or more diffraction gratings 42, 44, 46, 48, or incident from at least two directions on one or more diffraction gratings 72, 74, and the intensity is measured as a function of wavelength for at least four of the diffraction spectra produced by the gratings. The polarization state of light is then calculated as a function of wavelength over the spectral bandwidth from the intensity measurements.