Performance of a four-channel polarimeter with very-low-light-level detection

Victor L. Gamiz

doi:10.1117/12.333658

21 December 1998 Performance of a four-channel polarimeter with very low light level detection

Victor L. Gamiz

Proceedings Volume 3498, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites II; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.333658
Event: Remote Sensing, 1998, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

We examine the low light level performance of a four-channel polarimeter with a single photon counting sensor associated with each channel. Specifically, we investigate how the detection noise propagates through the polarimeter calibration matrix and influences the estimation of I₁ and I₂, the intensities in two orthogonal polarization states and, (delta) , the phase delay between the two orthogonal states. The error in estimating the phase delay is first derived in the small angle approximation for low light levels. The approximation is removed by deriving a general formalism valid for arbitrary light levels including very low light levels. A specific polarimeter design is examined and quantitative examples are shown and discussed for that polarimeter.

Citation Download Citation

Victor L. Gamiz "Performance of a four-channel polarimeter with very low light level detection", Proc. SPIE 3498, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites II, (21 December 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.333658

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