Fine tuning method for optimization of liquid crystal based polarimeters

Liquid crystal variable retarders (LCVR) based polarimeters perform temporal polarization modulation by applying a sequence of driving voltages to introduce different optical retardances. However, even after a careful design and fabrication, manufacturing tolerances (i.e., slight optical axis misali...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics express 2018-04, Vol.26 (9), p.12038-12048
Main Authors: Álvarez-Herrero, Alberto, Parejo, Pilar García, Silva-López, Manuel
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Liquid crystal variable retarders (LCVR) based polarimeters perform temporal polarization modulation by applying a sequence of driving voltages to introduce different optical retardances. However, even after a careful design and fabrication, manufacturing tolerances (i.e., slight optical axis misalignments, instrument residual polarization, optical activity in the LCVRs...) or the final system configuration (i.e., LCVRs in a convergent optical beam, thermal gradient across the clear aperture...) produce deviations from the ideal setup. As a consequence, all of these effects can reduce the polarimetric modulation efficiency of the device and, therefore, its signal-to-noise ratio. Hence, the voltage sequence applied according to the LCVR calibration curves may not be suitable to reach the optimal theoretical polarimetric efficiencies. In this work, a systematic fine tuning method for the LCVRs driving voltages is described an experimentally demonstrated.
ISSN:1094-4087
1094-4087
DOI:10.1364/OE.26.012038