Mueller matrix differential decomposition

We present a Mueller matrix decomposition based on the differential formulation of the Mueller calculus. The differential Mueller matrix is obtained from the macroscopic matrix through an eigenanalysis. It is subsequently resolved into the complete set of 16 differential matrices that correspond to the basic types of optical behavior for depolarizing anisotropic media. The method is successfully applied to the polarimetric analysis of several samples. The differential parameters enable one to perform an exhaustive characterization of anisotropy and depolarization. This decomposition is particularly appropriate for studying media in which several polarization effects take place simultaneously.     

Product decompositions of depolarizing Mueller matrices with negative determinants

We show that the product decomposition of a depolarizing Mueller matrix (S.-Y. Lu, R.A. Chipman, J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 13 (1996) 1106) as well as the recently proposed reverse decomposition (R. Ossikovski, A. De Martino, Opt. Lett. 32 (2007) 689) need to be extended in order to account for Mueller matrices with negative determinants. The necessity of such an extension of the formalism is illustrated on experimentally determined Mueller matrices. The procedure of the modified decomposition formalism is explicitly described.     

Differential and product Mueller matrix decompositions: a formal comparison

It is shown that the Mueller matrix logarithm and the Mueller matrix roots decompositions used for the extraction of the elementary polarization properties of a depolarizing medium, although being computationally different, are formally equivalent, being both based upon the differential representation of a continuously depolarizing medium. The common set of six elementary polarization properties provided by these two decompositions is generally different from that obtained from the various product decompositions summarized by the G-polar decomposition whereby the depolarization phenomenon is treated as being concentrated, and not uniformly distributed, within the medium. However, if the medium is weakly depolarizing, the two sets of elementary properties coincide to the first order in the depolarization and tend to the set of properties of the nondepolarizing estimate of the measured Mueller matrix obtained from its Cloude sum decomposition.     

Decomposition algorithm of an experimental Mueller matrix

This study deals with the interpretation of experimental Mueller matrices. The understanding of such a matrix is not straightforward in the case, in particular, of a strongly depolarizing medium, which is therefore disturbed and where relevant pieces of information are often distributed among its various elements. As a result, information data need to be extracted by a decomposition of any Mueller matrix into simple elements to uncouple the existing polarimetric effects. This led us to develop an algorithm in order to characterize any depolarizing, or not, polarimetric system. In addition to differentiating the experimental noise from the intrinsic depolarization of the optical system under study, this algorithm proved to: (i) separate depolarization from birefringence and dichroism and (ii) characterize the isotropic or anisotropic nature of the depolarization. At last, this algorithm was validated through the study of several optical systems with different polarimetric properties.     

光偏振态的群论描述:转动矩阵的生成元

应用偏振光描述中的变换矩阵与群论的对应关系[1]和相应的计算理论,讨论了与偏振光学系统中的Jones矩阵、Mueller矩阵相对应的SU(2)群、SO(3)群和Lorentz群的生成元问题,给出了用单位矩阵、Pauli自旋矩阵和稀疏矩阵分别作为无耗偏振光学系统中SU(2)群元(Jones矩阵)和SO(3)群元(Mueller矩阵)生成元以及部分损耗偏振光学系统中的幺模群(Jones矩阵)和Lorentz群(Mueller矩阵)生成元的具体形式;矩阵计算理论说明这些群元的生成元表示可以简化偏振光学系统的计算。     

Realizable differential matrices for depolarizing media

The evolution of a Stokes vector through depolarizing media is considered. A general form for the differential matrix is found that is appropriate in the presence of depolarization and it is parameterized in a manner that ensures that it yields, upon integration, a valid Mueller matrix for any choice of parameters. The form expands the more limited form for a nondepolarizing matrix given by Azzam [J. Opt. Soc. Am. 68, 1756 (1978)] and which was extended recently by others to include depolarization. A Mueller matrix decomposition is proposed that is based upon the new parameterization.     

Differential matrix formalism for depolarizing anisotropic media

Azzam's differential matrix formalism [J. Opt. Soc. Am. 68, 1756 (1978)], originally developed for longitudinally inhomogeneous anisotropic nondepolarizing media, is extended to include depolarizing media. The generalization is physically interpreted in terms of means and uncertainties of the elementary optical properties of the medium, as well as of three anisotropy absorption parameters introduced to describe the depolarization. The formalism results in a particularly simple mathematical procedure for the retrieval of the elementary properties of a generally depolarizing anisotropic medium, assumed to be globally homogeneous, from its experimental Mueller matrix. The approach is illustrated on literature data and the conditions of its validity are identified and discussed.     

Structure of Deterministic Mueller Matrices and Their Reconstruction in the Method of Three Input Polarizations

The method of reconstruction of complete deterministic Mueller matrices for the structures of incomplete matrices, which are measured in the method of three input polarizations, has been developed. The method is based on reconstruction of the corresponding Jones matrices for the given structures of incomplete Mueller matrices.     

Vector parameterization of the Lorentz group transformations and polar decomposition of Mueller matrices

It is shown that the representation of the coherence matrix (the polarization density matrix) of beams of electromagnetic waves as a biquaternion corresponding to the four-vector of a pseudo-Euclidean space whose components are the intensity and the Stokes parameters provides a possibility of introducing the group transformations of these quantities isomorphic to SO(3.1) group. These transformations are a subset of the set of Mueller polarization matrices which, generally speaking, form a semigroup. The reduction of the semigroup of Mueller matrices to the group of transformations opens the possibility to use the vector parameterization of SO(3.1) group for interpretation of the polar decomposition of Mueller matrices. In particular, in this approach, the elements of the Mueller matrices corresponding to phase elements and polarizers turn out to be most simply and naturally related to their eigenpolarizations.     

Influence of the order of the constituent basis matrices on the Mueller matrix decomposition-derived polarization parameters in complex turbid media such as biological tissues

The influence of the multiplication order of the constituent basis matrices on the Mueller matrix decomposition-derived polarization parameters in complex tissue-like turbid media exhibiting simultaneous scattering and polarization effects are investigated. A polarization sensitive Monte Carlo (MC) simulation model was used to generate Mueller matrices from turbid media exhibiting simultaneous linear birefringence, optical activity and multiple scattering effects. Mueller matrix decomposition was performed with different selected multiplication orders of the constituent basis matrices, which were further analyzed to derive quantitative individual polarization medium properties. The results show that for turbid medium having weak diattenuation (differential attenuation of two orthogonal polarization states), the decomposition-derived polarization parameters are independent of the multiplication order. Importantly, the values for the extracted polarization parameters were found to be in excellent agreement with the controlled inputs, showing self-consistency in inverse decomposition analysis and successful decoupling of the individual polarization effects. These results were corroborated further by selected experimental results from phantoms having optical (scattering and polarization) properties similar to those used in the MC model. Results from tissue polarimetry confirm that the magnitude of diattenuation is generally lower compared to other polarization effects, so that the demonstrated self-consistency of the decomposition formalism with respect to the potential ambiguity of ordering of the constituent matrices should hold in biological applications.     

随机介质背散射二维Mueller矩阵的数值模拟与分析

推导了随机介质背散射Mueller矩阵的直接计算公式,并运用矢量Monte Carlo方法进行了数值模拟.结果表明随机介质背散射二维Mueller矩阵方位关系随散射系数的减小而增强,而与微粒大小关系不大;Mueller矩阵元素绝对值的空间分布随径向呈近似指数规律衰减,矩阵元素的方位变化具有周期性.对称系统的二维Mueller矩阵的花样图中仅有7幅独立,其余9幅可通过对称、旋转变换得到.     

The connection between Mueller and Jones matrices of polarization optics

A necessary and sufficient condition for the 4 × 4 Mueller matrix to be derivable from the 2 × 2 Jones matrix is obtained. This condition allows one to determine if a given Mueller matrix describes a totally polarized system or a partially polarized (depolarizing) system. The result of Barakat is analysed in the light of this condition. A recently reported experimentally measured Mueller matrix is examined using this condition and is shown to represent a partially polarized system.     

Transformation matrices for the Mueller-Jones formalism

The Mueller-Jones (MJ) or pure Mueller matrix formulation has been reported by using two different matrix transformations in a condensed representation. The possibility to find other transformation matrices is explored. A complete set of unitary operators (R) is found to be closely related with the MJ matrices and with the evolution of pure states on the Poincaré sphere surface. We propose an alternative deduction for the condensed representation of the MJ matrices, obtained by using the Kronecker product operation and use of R unitary matrices as a tool to combine different Mueller matrices and changes of polarized states on the Poincarè sphere surface. Finally, it is shown explicitly that the columns of the transformation matrices are the eigenvectors of the MJ matrix associated to a non-depolarizing optical system and a corollary is established as a criterion to differentiate a Mueller matrix from an MJ matrix.     

Schemes for complete compensation for polarization mode dispersion up to second order

The required structure and elements of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) compensators for complete second-order compensation are investigated by use of a general PMD vector formalism of concatenated PMD elements based on Mueller matrices and Stokes vectors. The investigation shows that two- and three-stage compensators with five independent parameters can compensate for polarization-dependent chromatic dispersion as well as the depolarization component of second-order PMD.     

分形结构对随机取向烟尘团簇粒子光散射特性的影响

利用蒙特卡罗方法对不同分形维数和分形前向因子的随机取向烟尘团簇粒子的分形结构进行了仿真,采用离散偶极子近似（DDA）方法对随机取向烟尘团簇粒子的缪勒矩阵元进行了数值计算,并与球形粒子模型进行了比较,深入探讨了烟尘团簇粒子的分形维数和分形前因子对其散射特性的影响。研究表明,等效球形粒子的光散射特性与随机取向烟尘团簇粒子的光散射特性存在很大差别,并且此差别随着团簇粒子的分形维数以及分形前向因子的增大而减小;分形维数对表征团簇粒子散射特性的缪勒矩阵元的影响在一定散射角范围内均比较明显,分形前向因子对团簇粒子的缪勒矩阵元角分布的影响与分形维数的影响类似,不过其影响相对分形维数较弱。     

掺杂对随机分布团簇粒子缪勒矩阵的影响

文章分析了不同含量的杂质对随机分布团簇粒子缪勒矩阵的影响.利用Bruggeman有效介质理论得到了含有不同体积份额杂质的硅酸盐粒子的等效复折射率.采用离散偶极子近似方法对包含有不同化学成分的随机分布团簇粒子的缪勒矩阵进行了数值计算,给出了各个缪勒矩阵元素的散射角分布曲线,探讨了不同含量的杂质对随机分布团簇粒子缪勒矩阵的影响.研究表明,掺杂对随机分布团簇粒子的缪勒矩阵存在着不同程度的影响,并且此影响随着粒子尺度参数的变化而显著变化. 关键词： 团簇粒子 缪勒矩阵 Bruggeman有效介质理论 离散偶极子近似方法     

Calculations of Backscattering Mueller Matrices for Turbid Media with a Sphere Queue Model

A sphere queue model is introduced to calculate Mueller matrices of turbid media. Combined with the single scattering approximation, the backscattering Mueller matrices of turbid media can be computed rapidly by Mie theory. The numerical results agree with the azimuthal dependences of backscattering Mueller matrices＇ patterns from turbid media, which indicates that the major contribution to the Mueller matrices＇ patterns comes from the single scattering of the sphere queue, and the multiple scattering considered as a high-order correction does not change the patterns. The numerical analysis reveals that the contrast of Mueller matrices＇ patterns will decrease with increase of the concentration of media and the distance from the incident point.     

A simple depolarization criterion for light

A simple depolarization criterion for light is proposed. This criterion is based on the depolarization part derived from the degree of polarization formulation. Some reported Mueller matrices are employed to test its reliability and usefulness. Results prove that the criterion proposed can be employed as the first step to test the physical consistency of Mueller matrices.     

混浊介质中后向单次漫散射米勒矩阵特征

采用斯托克斯(Stokes)矢量形式,推导出当无限窄的连续光束垂直入射到混浊介质表面时,后向单次漫散射米勒(Mueller)矩阵的解析表达式。基于米氏(Mie)散射模式,详细分析了单次散射米勒矩阵元素的分布模式,以及与介质粒子数密度,粒子尺寸参量之间的关系。研究表明:单次散射米勒矩阵的方位变化随粒子数密度的增加,逐渐消失,而矩阵元素m22,m33,m23,m32随粒子数密度的变化,具有更显著的方位变化特征。矩阵元素m22,m33在方位角=45°时的值随尺寸参量的变化有一定的规律性,当尺寸参量小于某一特征参量时,其值呈下降趋势,反之则呈波动上升趋势。当介质粒子数密度以及粒子尺寸参量改变时,米勒矩阵元素强度的径向分布模式不变,即在任何方位,强度随径向距离都近似成指数规律衰减,方位变化呈周期性。     

Use of Dirac matrices in polarization optics

Several matrix methods have been developed for studying polarization properties of light. Jones was the first to apply the matrix method to the study of polarization optics. In Jones matrix formalism the polarized wave field is represented by 2-element column matrix known as Jones Vector and the polarization device encountered by light is represented by a 2×2 matrix, known as the characteristic Jones matrix of the device. Mueller introduced a new matrix method where the wave field is represented by a 4-dimensional vector. The elements of the vector are the Stokes parameters of the beam. In Mueller matrix formalism the optical device is represented by a 4×4 real matrix known as ‘Mueller Matrix’ of the device. The use of coherency matrix also proves to the useful in the study of partially polarized light. Pauli spin matrices have been used to unify the different matrix treatments of polarization optical phenomena. The present article is an attempt to unify the analysis of polarization phenomena using Dirac matrices used by Dirac in quantum mechanics. We have however redefined the set of Dirac matrices in terms of the Kronecher product of Pauli spin matrices.