Abstract

The four-detector photopolarimeter (FDP) is analyzed for an arbitrary spatial configuration and any reflection characteristics (r_i, ψ_i, Δ_i,) of the first three detectors. The instrument matrix A, which relates the output signal vector I to the input Stokes vector S by I = AS, and its determinant are derived explicitly. The essential condition that A be nonsingular (det A ≠ 0) is satisfied in general with uncoated absorbing detector surfaces, assuming that the plane of incidence (POI) is rotated between successive reflections by other than 90°. Therefore no special coatings on the detectors are required, and a thin dielectric (e.g., thermal oxide) layer would suffice. The differential reflection phase shift Δ is unrestricted for the first and third detectors and has optimum values of ±90° for the second. The optimum rotation angles of the POI are ±45° and ±135°. The optimum values of the surface parameter ψ are 27.37°, 22.5° or 67.5°, and 0 or 90° for the first, second, and third reflections, respectively. The following topics are also considered: (1) the partition of energy among detectors, (2) the effect of tilting the last detector, (3) operation of the FDP over a broadband spectral range, (4) choice of the light-beam path, and (5) calibration.

© 1988 Optical Society of America

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