Work

Double-Stokes characterization of depolarized light using two-photon excited fluorescence

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Describing depolarized light is a significant challenge for traditional polarimetry as linear Stokes parameters tend to vanish. Nonlinear optical processes that rely on the coherent interaction of two incident photons may enable depolarization analysis through fourth-order electric field correlations, providing a nonlinear extension of Stokes parameters - the double-Stokes parameters. In this work, we use two-photon absorption to experimentally demonstrate the application of double-Stokes parameters for analysis of polarized and depolarized sources, including Lyot and liquid-crystal depolarizers, revealing polarized features in depolarized light that have no linear counterpart. These results highlight the potential of nonlinear polarimetry as a tool for optical diagnostics.

Source: Optics Express

DOI: 10.1364/oe.557145

Authors: Charles W. Stark, Ida Pinte, Meelis-Mait Sildoja, Juri Pahapill, Aleksander Rebane

Institutions: National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Montana State University

Language: English

Topic: Optical Polarization and Ellipsometry

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,270

Funders: Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium, QuantERA