title: Overdetermined broadband spectroscopic Mueller matrix polarimeter designed by genetic algorithms.
abstract: This paper reports on the design and implementation of a liquid crystal variable retarder based overdetermined spectroscopic Mueller matrix polarimeter, with parallel processing of all wavelengths. The system was designed using a modified version of a recently developed genetic algorithm [Letnes et al. Opt. Express 18, 22, 23095 (2010)]. A generalization of the eigenvalue calibration method is reported that allows the calibration of such overdetermined polarimetric systems. Out of several possible designs, one of the designs was experimentally implemented and calibrated. It is reported that the instrument demonstrated good performance, with a measurement accuracy in the range of 0.1% for the measurement of air.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), N-7491 Trondheim, Norway. lars.martin.aas@gmail.com
authors.forename: Lars Martin Sandvik
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Aas
authors.forename: Pål Gunnar
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Ellingsen
authors.forename: Bent Even
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Fladmark
authors.forename: Paul Anton
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Letnes
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kildemo
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation*