Naicheng Quan

Full Stokes spectralpolarimeter based on the polarization-difference interference imaging spectrometer

The theoretical operation and experimental demonstration of a Fourier-transform Stokes imaging spectropolarimeter are presented. It is composed of two birefringent crystal retarders with equal thickness (the frontal retarder is rotatable) and a Fourier-transform spectrometer based on Savart polariscope. The polarized light enters the spectrometer to create three sets of interferograms, where the spectral Stokes parameters can be calculated and acquired. Compared with previous instruments, the significant advantages of the described sensor are no spatial aliasing in the polarized spectra and it can be used in wider spectral coverage with low cost, ultra-compact size and a simpler common-path configuration.