title: Linear polarization difference imaging and its potential applications.
abstract: We demonstrate a novel linear polarization imaging technique and its potential application in dermatology. This technique records a series of images corresponding to different combinations of illumination and detection polarization and calculates intensity differences between orthogonal detection polarizations pixel by pixel. Fitting the polarization difference data to an analytical expression of the incident and detection polarization angles results in two new parameters, G and (phi3)/2. It is shown that G is strongly correlated to the order of alignment of the fibrous structure in the sample, and (phi3)/2 represents the angle of orientation of the fibers. Preliminary clinical testing implies that this method may be applied for medical diagnosis of skin diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Optical Imaging and Sensing, Graduate School at Shenzhen,Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
authors.forename: Zeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nan
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiaoyu
authors.forename: Gao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qiang
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yonghong
authors.forename: Ma
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016880:Anisotropy; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods; D004372:Ducks; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008029:Lighting; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization / Q000379:methods*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology