Abstract

All 32 elements of the quiescent and modulation components $\overline{\mathbf{\text{M}}}$ and ΔM of the Mueller matrix M that describes the elastic scattering of light from a depolarizing sample subjected to time-harmonic modulation of frequency Ω can be simultaneously retrieved from the spectrally separated baseband and modulated-carrier components of a single detected signal by using a photopolarimeter whose polarizing and analyzing optics are modulated at lower frequencies ω_k ≪ Ω. Some of the prospective applications of this powerful technique of modulated-Mueller-matrix photopolarimetry (MMMP) are indicated.

© 1980 Optical Society of America

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