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Title: Stokes polarimetry using analysis of the nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship for liquid-crystal variable retarders

Abstract

We present a method for using liquid-crystal variable retarders (LCVR’s) with continually varying voltage to measure the Stokes vector of a light beam. The LCVR's are usually employed with fixed retardance values due to the nonlinear voltage-retardance behavior that they show. The nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship is first measured and then a linear fit of the known retardance terms to the detected signal is performed. We use known waveplates (half-wave and quarter-wave) as devices to provide controlled polarization states to the Stokes polarimeter and we use the measured Stokes parameters as functions of the orientation of the axes of the waveplates as an indication of the quality of the polarimeter. Results are compared to a Fourier analysis method that does not take into account the nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship and also to a Fourier analysis method that uses experimental voltage values to give a linear retardance function with time. Also, we present results of simulations for comparison.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Centro de Ciencias Aplicadas y Desarrollo Tecnológico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Apdo. Postal 70-186, México D.F., 04510 (Mexico)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22254992
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Review of Scientific Instruments
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 85; Journal Issue: 3; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0034-6748
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; BEAMS; ELECTRIC POTENTIAL; FOURIER ANALYSIS; LIQUID CRYSTALS; POLARIMETERS; POLARIMETRY; POLARIZATION; STOKES PARAMETERS; VECTORS; VISIBLE RADIATION

Citation Formats

López-Téllez, J. M., E-mail: jmlopez@comunidad.unam.mx, and Bruce, N. C. Stokes polarimetry using analysis of the nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship for liquid-crystal variable retarders. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4867458.
López-Téllez, J. M., E-mail: jmlopez@comunidad.unam.mx, & Bruce, N. C. Stokes polarimetry using analysis of the nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship for liquid-crystal variable retarders. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4867458
López-Téllez, J. M., E-mail: jmlopez@comunidad.unam.mx, and Bruce, N. C. 2014. "Stokes polarimetry using analysis of the nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship for liquid-crystal variable retarders". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4867458.
@article{osti_22254992,
title = {Stokes polarimetry using analysis of the nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship for liquid-crystal variable retarders},
author = {López-Téllez, J. M., E-mail: jmlopez@comunidad.unam.mx and Bruce, N. C.},
abstractNote = {We present a method for using liquid-crystal variable retarders (LCVR’s) with continually varying voltage to measure the Stokes vector of a light beam. The LCVR's are usually employed with fixed retardance values due to the nonlinear voltage-retardance behavior that they show. The nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship is first measured and then a linear fit of the known retardance terms to the detected signal is performed. We use known waveplates (half-wave and quarter-wave) as devices to provide controlled polarization states to the Stokes polarimeter and we use the measured Stokes parameters as functions of the orientation of the axes of the waveplates as an indication of the quality of the polarimeter. Results are compared to a Fourier analysis method that does not take into account the nonlinear voltage-retardance relationship and also to a Fourier analysis method that uses experimental voltage values to give a linear retardance function with time. Also, we present results of simulations for comparison.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4867458},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22254992}, journal = {Review of Scientific Instruments},
issn = {0034-6748},
number = 3,
volume = 85,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Sat Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}