Fieldable Mueller matrix imaging spectropolarimeter using a hybrid spatial and temporal modulation scheme

Abstract

Many correlations exist between spectral reflectance and various phenotypic responses from plants. Of interest to us are structural characteristics; namely, how the various spectral and polarimetric components may correlate to underlying environmental, metabolic, and genotypic differences among plant varieties within a given species. In this paper, we overview a portable Mueller matrix imaging spectropolarimeter that has been optimized for field use. Key aspects to the design included minimizing the measurement time while maximizing signal-to-noise ratio with low systematic errors. These goals must be achieved while maintaining an imaging capability across multiple measurement wavelengths, spanning the blue to near-infrared spectral region. To this end, we will review our optimization procedure, simulations, and experimental results, including preliminary field data taken from our summer 2021 field trials.