Truncated Singular Value Decomposition Method for Calibrating a Stokes Polarimeter

Published

October 1, 2007

Author(s)

Bruno Boulbry, J C. Ramella-Roman, Thomas A. Germer

Abstract

We present a method for calibrating polarimeters that uses a set of well-characterized reference polarizations and makes no assumptions about the optics contained in the polarimeter other than their linearity. The method requires that a matrix be constructed that contains the data acquired for each of the reference polarization states and that this matrix be pseudo-inverted. Since this matrix is usually singular, we improve the method by performing the pseudo-inversion by singular value decomposition, keeping only the four largest singular values. We demonstrate the calibration technique using an imaging polarimeter based upon liquid crystal variable retarders and with light emitting diode (LED) illumination centered at 472 nm, 525 nm, and 630 nm. We generate the reference polarizations by an unpolarized source, a single polarizer, and a Fresnel rhomb. This method is particularly useful when calibrations are performed on field-grade instruments at a centrally maintained facility and when a traceability chain needs to be maintained.

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of Polarization Science and Remote Sensing | III | 2007 | SPIE 6682 |

Conference Dates

August 29-30, 2007

Conference Title

SPIE

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

calibration, polarimetry

Citation

Boulbry, B. , Ramella-Roman, J. and Germer, T. (2007), Truncated Singular Value Decomposition Method for Calibrating a Stokes Polarimeter, Proceedings of Polarization Science and Remote Sensing | III | 2007 | SPIE 6682 |, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=841119 (Accessed May 13, 2025)