Sensitive measurements of two-dimensional birefringence distributions using near-circularly polarized beam

摘要

Image processing algorithms for measuring two-dimensional distributions of linear birefringence using a pair of variable retarders are proposed. Several algorithms using from 2 to 5 recorded frames allow to make fast or real time measurements, increase sensitivity and suppress measurement errors. Moreover, the described algorithms can be applied for proposed birefringence imaging systems with fixed retarders and/or Faraday rotators, including systems with images acquired in time sequences or as sets of parallel images.