Abstract

The polarization of a light field can be characterized by a Stokes vector and, only if the degree of polarization is unity, by a Jones vector. Correspondingly, the polarization properties of an optical sample can be characterized by a 4×4 Mueller matrix converting the input Stokes vector into an output Stokes vector. A 2×2 Jones matrix can also be used to characterize the polarization properties of a non-depolarizing sample in which Jones and Mueller matrices are equivalent. It has been proved that, because of the coherent detection scheme in a PS-OCT system, a scattering sample behaves as a non-depolarizing medium, so both Jones and Mueller calculations can be used. A Mueller OCT system is a more general fonn of a PS-OCT system measuring both Mueller and Jones matrices.

© 2007 IEEE