Decomposition and interpretation of Mueller matrices

R. Ossikovski

doi:doi:10.1051/epjconf/20100504005

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Issue		EPJ Web of Conferences Volume 5, 2010 API'09 - First NanoCharM Workshop on Advanced Polarimetric Instrumentation


Article Number		04005
Number of page(s)		1
Section		Mueller matrix algebra and data analysis
DOI		http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20100504005
Published online		02 June 2010

EPJ Web of Conferences 5, 04005 (2010)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20100504005

Decomposition and interpretation of Mueller matrices

R. Ossikovski

LPICM, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, 91128, Palaiseau, France

Published online: 02 June 2010

Abstract

The various decompositions of depolarizing Mueller matrices into products of basic optical devices, i.e. retarders, diattenuators and depolarizers, are critically revisited. Both “classic” as well as recently proposed factorizations are overviewed. The “depolarization aspect” is given a special attention. Experimental matrices are factorized and physically interpreted using the different decompositions. The problems of physical realizability and matrix filtering are treated in connection with the sum decomposition of a depolarizing Mueller matrix.