Measurement of the Stokes parameters of light

H. G. Berry, G. Gabrielse, A. E. Livingston

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

260 Scopus citations

Abstract

We describe a measuring system for determining the state of polarization of a beam of light in terms of its Stokes parameters. The technique which can be fully automated incorporates a monochromator and single photon counting detection and can thus be applied over a large wavelength range for very weak optical signals. Fourier transformation of the data by an on-line minicomputer allows immediate calculation of the Stokes parameters. We discuss special applications to light emitted from excited atomic systems with and without cylindrical symmetry.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3200-3205
Number of pages6
JournalApplied optics
Volume16
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1977

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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