Full Stokes polarimetric imaging using a single ferroelectric liquid crystal device

Abstract

This paper reports the design and the implementation of a Stokes imaging polarimeter able to provide full polarimetric information at 200 fps. This portable implementation is based on a division-of-time architecture and uses a single ferroelectric liquid crystal device as the polarization modulating element. Our system is designed to work at 532 nm with natural light or with controlled illumination, without temperature control. We propose an optimized driving scheme of the modulator such that the liquid crystal device can produce four polarization states which makes it possible to retrieve the full polarimetric information. The modulator characterization is reported and experimental results are provided.