新型偏振特性因子及其传递关系的研究

偏振遥感图像通常可以采用强度、偏振度、偏振角或HIS柱形彩色空间表征目标偏振特性.本文通过建立光束在多层介质中传递的简单模型,找到一种新型偏振特性因子.此偏振特性因子所成图像是偏振度图像和偏振角图像信息复合的结果,其实质反映了偏振光束中的线偏振光的光强相对含量及它的偏振角方向.对伪装过的车牌进行偏振成像,实验表明此偏振特性因子可以用于特定环境下的伪装辨别.     

大视场偏振CCD相机的偏振特性实验标定

大视场偏振CCD相机内部的多个光学表面会改变入射光的偏振状态,并且改变的程度与入射光的偏振态、视场角和方位角等有关,影响了仪器偏振测量精度,从而制约了偏振成像遥感数据的定量化应用水平。为解决这一问题,从考虑偏振效应的大视场偏振相机响应输出模型出发,研究模型参数的标定方法,通过设计试验获取了模型参数标定数据。将经过标定的大视场偏振CCD相机测试值和可调偏振度光源预设偏振度值进行对比,结果显示偏振相机在0°、15°、25°视场角下的偏振度测量平均误差不大于1.18%,远小于光学镜头自身的起偏度。消除偏振遥感仪器自身的偏振敏感性影响,为将来我国自主星载偏振遥感图像的定量化应用奠定基础。     

减小无源OCT中初始双折射影响的方法

针对无源光学电流互感器的线性双折射问题,用琼斯矩阵分析了双折射对系统输出的影响.分析了输出光退化成圆偏振情况下光学电流互感器仍能传感电流的现象,以及输出光保持线偏振条件下系统输出电压仍受线性双折射影响的现象.分析了入射光偏转角、入射光湘移与初始线性双折射对光学电流互感器输出的联合影响.结果表明,当初始双折射存在的情况下,随着入射光相移的变化,系统输出相对偏差存在极小值,且极小值对应的入射光相移随着初始双折射值而单调递增.由此提出增加入射光相移来减小初始线性双折射对系统输出影响的方法.用计算机仿真了理论计算结果,实验验证了这种方法的可行性.对改进无源光学电流互感器的性能、开发实用光学电流互感器具有参考意义.     

光纤型偏振OCT 系统中光偏振特性的研究

建立了偏振光在生物组织中传播的模型,并利用该模型模拟了偏振光在生物组织中传播的过程,重建了多种偏振态输入光的情况下光偏振态在生物组织中的分布及生物组织的偏振特性模型.分析了光偏振度与光被生物组织散射次数的关系,阐明了由于偏振光在组织中传播,其偏振态逐渐改变而造成的偏振OCT 干涉计两臂光束失去相干性及偏振OCT 图像质量下降现象.通过分析斯托克斯(Stokes)矢量和穆勒(Muller)矩阵在光纤型偏振OCT系统中的应用,说明Muller 矩阵不受输入光偏振态的影响,因此它比Stokes 矢量更适用于光纤型偏振OCT 系统研究.     

金属板热红外偏振的方向特性研究

热红外偏振探测有利于从背景中识别金属目标.通过分析热红外偏振探测方法,根据现有条件研制了一种热红外成像偏振探测仪.利用该系统,研究了金属板热红外偏振度和观测角之间的关系.实验中采用的金属板分别为铝质和钢质,表面都进行了抛光处理.实验结果表明,金属目标板热红外偏振度和其自身的热辐射亮温值没有直接的关系.在观测角大于20°时,随着观测角度的增大,金属目标板热红外偏振度的数值也增大.但在观测角小于20°时测量,金属目标板热红外偏振度和观测角之间的关系并不遵循上述原则.     

亚波长金属光栅偏振器设计

针对仿生微纳导航传感器敏感波段380～520nm的要求,基于严格耦合波理论,设计了一种适用于蓝紫光波段的金属光栅偏振器,并应用等效介质理论直观地分析了金属光栅偏振器的工作原理．所设计的金属光栅偏振器与传统的金属光栅偏振器的不同之处在于：在基底和金属线栅之间增加了氟化镁薄膜,并且刻蚀一部分氟化镁薄膜．在垂直入射条件下,在整个可见光波段,金属光栅偏振器TN透射效率大于61．5％,消光比大于370;数值计算和理论分析表明,所设计的金属光栅偏振器是一种宽带宽、高TN透射效率和高消光比的偏振器件．     

光纤传感器中偏振开关法消偏振衰落技术

针对低双折射光纤双光束干涉型传感器两臂偏振态随机变化引起的信号衰落,提出的一种新型消偏振方式可以在可见度略有下降的情况下,较好地消除偏振态变化引起的干涉信号可见度的随机变化。该方案是通过相互正交的两个偏振态,补偿由于其中一个偏振态变化导致的干涉信号衰落。通过自动增益控制电路（AGC）可以使传感信号稳定,能够在信噪比有所下降的情况下消除偏振衰落的影响,实现干涉型光纤传感器的消偏振衰落。     

基于光学互易回路的全光纤电流互感器的研究与应用

针对传统有源电磁式互感器易饱和、稳定性与抗干扰能力差、安装受限等问题,本文基于Faraday磁光效应,设计了一种无源全光纤电流互感器,通过旋光角来测量被测电流;设计互感器以HB Spun光纤作为传感元件,无饱和现象,可用于大电流测量;利用光学互易回路,消除光路中温度、光纤缺陷等因素对旋光角测量的干扰;采用反射式光路将电场引起的旋光角放大4倍,实现小电流的精确测量;传感元件采用柔性传感光纤环结构,形状可变,适应复杂空间内电流的测量。对比了不同圈数的柔性光纤传感环与标准电流互感器的测量精度,结果表明,本文设计的光学互易回路可以消除温度对电流测量的影响,全光纤电流互感器在-5℃~70℃全温度范围内精度为0.5,可实现小电流的精确测量。     

基于像素偏振阵列的图像传感器航向角检测

目的:模仿昆虫的导航能力,研究基于像素偏振阵列结构图像传感器的偏振导航方法。方法:使用具有像素偏振阵列结构的芯片搭建偏振导航传感器,采用两种航向角解算方法进行导航实验。在基于图像的航向角计算方法中,以太阳子午线方向建立新的坐标体系后重绘偏振角图片,提取出所有偏振角接近90°的特征点位置进行直线拟合,结合实际太阳方位角解算出航向角。结果:两种导航方法均实现了航向角检测,基于图像的航向角解算方法精度较高,航向角测量最大误差为0.882°,误差均值为0.332°。结论:基于像素偏振阵列结构的图像传感器实现了航向角检测,精度满足导航需求。     

LWIR亚波长铝/硒化锌光栅偏振器设计

为提高长波红外偏振成像系统中偏振器件性能,本文通过分析光栅材料及结构参数对光栅偏振性能的影响,设计并优化了一种双层材料构成的亚波长光栅。该光栅为矩形形貌,光栅区由铝与硒化锌构成,两种材料的厚度分别为0.6 μm和0.4 μm,光栅周期1 μm,占空比50%。利用严格耦合波理论分析并计算该结构光栅的衍射效率,7~15 μm波段的光以0~60°入射后其0级横磁模透射率达到87.54%以上,消光比超过47 dB。该光栅在10.6 μm的测试波长下,TM透射率高达90.80%且具有50 dB以上的消光比,相比槽深相同的单层铝光栅,偏振透过率明显提高。仿真结果显示,该光栅在整个宽长波红外波段具有良好的偏振性能。     

Temperature-dependent,polarization-induced bias errors in a resonator integrated optical gyroscope

The performance of a resonator integrated optical gyroscope (RIOG) is inevitably influenced by polarization noise. In this work, the effects of temperature-dependent polarization on the performances of an integrated optical resonator (IOR) and a RIOG are formulated mathematically and analyzed. Firstly, resonant curves with different polarization extinction ratios (PERs) and different temperature fluctuations are demonstrated. The main performances of the IOR, i.e. depth and full width at half maximum (FWHM), are not only influenced by the waveguide birefringence, but also by the intensity coupling coefficient of the couplers, both of which change with the variation of temperature. Secondly, the relationship between the variation of temperature and the variation of depth, as well as the FWHM, are obtained. Thirdly, in order to evaluate the zero bias error caused by the temperature-dependent polarization, resonant asymmetry ratio (RAR) is introduced, which is strongly dependent on the temperature fluctuation. A relationship between the bias error caused by the polarization and the temperature fluctuation is proposed. A large PER of the input beam and a high temperature stability are required to reduce the bias error and achieve a high bias stability of the silica RIOG.     

Polarization characteristics of a wire-grid polarizer in a rotating platform

I explore the polarization characteristics of a wire-grid polarizer operating in a rotating platform using well-established rigorous coupled-wave analysis. The results show that the performance of a wire-grid polarizer evaluated in transmittance and extinction ratio is substantially degraded with rotation, although it is still more robust than that of a perfect polarizer. The performance may further deteriorate with inclined incidence due to an increased negative effect of a Rayleigh anomaly. Either a finer or a deeper grating reduces the adverse effect of rotation. Although implementation of such a grating is difficult, the rotation characteristics can be enhanced by means of pixelating the wire grids of various orientations and capturing the input images with a sufficiently high sampling rate.     

Liquid-crystal-based switchable polarizers for sensor protection

Linear polarizers are generally employed in conjunction with advanced liquid-crystal filters for the protection of human eyes and optical sensors. For detection sensitivity under a no-threat condition to be maximized, the polarizer should remain in a clear state with a minimum insertion loss. When threats are present, it should be quickly switched to function as a linear polarizer with a high extinction ratio. Two types of switchable polarizer for sensor protection are demonstrated. The polarization conversion type exhibits a high optical efficiency in its clear state, a high extinction ratio in the linear polarizer state, and a fast switching speed, except that its field of view is limited to approximately ±10°. In contrast, an improved switchable dichroic polarizer functions effectively over a much wider field of view. However, its extinction ratio and optical efficiency in its clear state are lower than those of the polarization conversion type.     

Optimizing imaging polarimeters constructed with imperfect optics

Imaging polarimeters are often designed and optimized by assuming that the polarization properties of the optics are nearly ideal. For example, we often assume that the linear polarizers have infinite extinction ratios. It is also usually assumed that the retarding elements have retardances that do not vary either spatially or with the angle of incidence. We consider the case where the polarization optics used to develop an imaging polarimeter are imperfect. Specifically, we examine the expected performance of a system as the extinction ratio of the diattenuators degrades, as the retardance varies spatially, and as the retardance varies with incidence angle. It is found that the penalty in the signal-to-noise ratio for using diattenuators with low extinction ratios is not severe, as an extinction ratio of 5 causes only a 2.0 dB increase in the noise in the reconstructed Stokes parameter images compared with an ideal diattenuator. Likewise, we find that a system can be optimized in the presence of spatially varying retardance, but that angular positioning error is far more important in rotating retarder imaging polarimeters.     

Reduction of skylight reflection effects in the above-water measurement of diffuse marine reflectance: comment

Use of a vertical polarizer has been suggested to reduce the effects of surface reflection in the above-water measurements of marine reflectance. We suggest using a similar technique for airborne or spaceborne sensors when atmospheric scattering adds its own polarization signature to the upwelling radiance. Our own theoretical sensitivity study supports the recommendation of Fougnie et al. [Appl. Opt. 38, 3844 (1999)] (40-50 degrees vertical angle and azimuth angle near 135 degrees , polarizer parallel to the viewing plane) for above-water measurements. However, the optimal viewing directions (and the optimal orientation of the polarizer) change with altitude above the sea surface, solar angle, and atmospheric vertical optical structure. A polarization efficiency function is introduced, which shows the maximal possible polarization discrimination of the background radiation for an arbitrary altitude above the sea surface, viewing direction, and solar angle. Our comment is meant to encourage broader application of airborne and spaceborne polarization sensors in remote sensing of water and sea surface properties.     

Finite-aperture wire grid polarizers

The transmission characteristics of wire grid polarizers fabricated in finite apertures are investigated by using a three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain formulation. Specifically, the optical transmissivity and extinction ratio are characterized for a wide variety of geometrical parameters including aperture size in both dimensions, conducting wire fill factor, and polarizer thickness. A dispersive material model is used to investigate the performance of polarizers fabricated by using realistic metals at infrared wavelengths. The results indicate that the aperture dimension significantly impacts the polarizer transmission behavior and that the extinction of the unwanted polarization is often limited by depolarizing scattering that is due to the finite aperture size.     

Stacked subwavelength gratings as circular polarization filters

We have stacked subwavelength gratings (SWGs) on a single substrate to create a compact, integrated circular polarization filter. The SWGs consist of a wire grid polarizer and a broadband form-birefringent quarter-wave plate (QWP). Rigorous coupled-wave analysis was used to design the QWP for operation over the 3.5-5.0-mum wavelength range. The fabricated silicon broadband QWP exhibited a phase retardance of 82-97 degrees across this wavelength range. Two stacked structures are presented, each with a different wire grid polarizer fabricated on an organic planarization layer (SU-8) that is deposited on a QWP grating. Transmittance measurements of the first structure when illuminated with nominally right- and left-circularly polarized light indicate a circular extinction ratio (CER) limited by the low linear extinction ratio of the polarizer. Use of a wire grid polarizer with a higher extinct ratio led to a stacked SWG structure that demonstrated CERs of 10-45 across the 3.5-5.0-mum wavelength range.     

Polarization properties of thin films of diamond

Thin films transparent to optical radiation offer polarization properties that are enhanced when the thickness of the film is an odd multiple of the quarter-wavelength. The transmission and reflection properties of a 1.16-μm-thick film of diamond realized by plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition have been studied at 10.6 μm. A compact polarizer built with four films at a Brewster angle revealed an extinction ratio of better than 1:1000 of the S polarization. The interest in optics in which parasitic-reflected or transmitted beams do not exist is pointed out. The high damage threshold of diamonds opens the possibility of controlling the polarization characteristics of high-power lasers used, for example, for soldering and cutting applications.