The field-of-view dependence of polarizing beam-splitter cubes has bee
n studied to characterize their behavior in imaging systems such as op
tical computers and optical correlators and in other applications that
involve noncollimated light. Significant polarization aberration is p
resent in polarizing beam-splitter cubes for two reasons: (1) the s- a
nd p-component orientations, which define the polarizing axes, at the
beam-splitting interface vary with the direction of propagation, and (
2) the performance of the coating is a function of the angle of incide
nce. We describe the polarization aberration of a polarizing beam-spli
tter cube in terms of its diattenuation (polarizing efficiency). We us
e an imaging polarimeter to measure six figures of merit for three pol
arizing beam-splitter cubes demonstrating typical polarization aberrat
ions. Finally, we derive the Mueller matrix for a polarizing beam-spli
tter cube in terms of the s and p transmittance and reflectance and th
e phase retardances, the parameters generally calculated with thin-fil
m analysis programs.