Customized depolarization spatial patterns with dynamic retardance functions

Abstract In this work we demonstrate customized depolarization spatial patterns by imaging a dynamical time-dependent pixelated retarder. A proof-of-concept of the proposed method is presented, where a liquid–crystal spatial light modulator is used as a spatial retarder that emulates a controlled sp...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: David Marco, Guadalupe López-Morales, María del Mar Sánchez-López, Ángel Lizana, Ignacio Moreno, Juan Campos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2021-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88515-x
Description
Summary:Abstract In this work we demonstrate customized depolarization spatial patterns by imaging a dynamical time-dependent pixelated retarder. A proof-of-concept of the proposed method is presented, where a liquid–crystal spatial light modulator is used as a spatial retarder that emulates a controlled spatially variant depolarizing sample by addressing a time-dependent phase pattern. We apply an imaging Mueller polarimetric system based on a polarization camera to verify the effective depolarization effect. Experimental validation is provided by temporal integration on the detection system. The effective depolarizance results are fully described within a simple graphical approach which agrees with standard Mueller matrix decomposition methods. The potential of the method is discussed by means of three practical cases, which include non-reported depolarization spatial patterns, including exotic structures as a spirally shaped depolarization pattern.
ISSN:2045-2322