title: Components of purity of a Mueller matrix.
abstract: The degree of polarimetric purity of a Mueller matrix, also called "depolarization index" [Opt. Acta 33, 185 (1986)] is expressed as a quadratic average of two contributions of different nature. The contribution due to the polarizance and diattenuation properties is given by a unique parameter called "degree of polarizance," and the complementary contribution due to nonpolarizing properties is given by a parameter called "degree of spherical purity." These two intrinsic quantities are useful in order to analyze the sources of the polarimetric purity of a material sample whose Mueller matrix has been measured and provide criteria for the classification of Mueller matrices.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Zaragoza, San Juan Bosco 7, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. ppgil@unizar.es
authors.forename: José J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gil