We present experimental depth-resolved complete polarization-sensitive measurements of a stack of linear retarders and glass plates by using what is to the best of our knowledge the first combination of a confocal imaging system with a complete Mueller matrix polarimeter. The axially resolved Mueller matrices were compared with a forward simulation, with good agreement.

A depolarization scalar metric for Mueller matrices, named Q(M), is derived from the degree of polarization. Q(M) has been recently reported, and it has been deduced from the nine bilinear constraints between the sixteen elements of the Mueller-Jones matrix. We discuss the relations between Q(M) and the depolarization index.

Optical scanning microscopy techniques based on the polarization control of light have capability providing non invasive label-free contrast. By comparing states excitation with its transformation after interaction sample, full optical properties can be summarized in a single 4×4 Mueller matrix. The main challenge such technique is to encode and decode polarized an optimal way pixel-by-pixel ta...

We introduce a 434 Mueller matrix for describing the polarization states of a liquid crystal cell. Using this Mueller matrix, it is possible to derive conditions whereby a linearly polarized input can be converted to either a perfectly linearly or perfectly circularly polarized output. These are called the perfect polarization conversion ~PPC! conditions. These PPC conditions can be used in man...

A snapshot imaging Mueller matrix polarimeter (SIMMP) is theoretically described and empirically demonstrated through simulation. Spatial polarization fringes are localized onto a sample by incorporating polarization gratings (PGs) into a polarization generator module. These fringes modulate the Mueller matrix (MM) components of the sample, which are subsequently isolated with PGs in an analyze...