A sensor testing apparatus is described which is capable of testing any sensor regardless of the type of polarization to which the sensor is sensitive. The testing apparatus comprises source conditioning part (20) to produce a beam of optical energy of a known polarization state. A polarization conditioning part (50) changes the polarization state of the optical energy beam to any desired polarization state. A transmit quadrant detector (110) detects the polarization state of the optical energy and the optical energy is directed to a sensor (190) to be tested. The optical energy transmitted by the sensor (190) is detected by a receive quadrant detector (230). The polarization state is displayed on the monitor of a computer by virtue of a computer interface with both quadrant detectors (110,230).
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