INTERPRETATION OF MUELLER MATRICES BASED ON POLAR DECOMPOSITION

Authors
LU SY CHIPMAN RA
Citation
Sy. Lu et Ra. Chipman, INTERPRETATION OF MUELLER MATRICES BASED ON POLAR DECOMPOSITION, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science,and vision., 13(5), 1996, pp. 1106-1113
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Optics
Journal title
Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science,and vision. → ACNP
ISSN journal
10847529
Volume
13
Issue
5
Year of publication
1996
Pages
1106 - 1113
Database
ISI
SICI code
1084-7529(1996)13:5<1106:IOMMBO>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
We present an algorithm that decomposes a Mueller matrix into a sequen ce of three matrix factors: a diattenuator, followed by a retarder, th en followed by a depolarizer. Those factors are unique except for sing ular Mueller matrices. Based on this decomposition, the diattenuation and the retardance of a Mueller matrix can be defined and computed. Th us this algorithm is useful for performing data reduction upon experim entally determined Mueller matrices. (C) 1996 Optical Society of Ameri ca