Abstract:
An optical spectrum analyzer comprises a diffraction grating (DG), a polarization decomposing unit (PDM) for decomposing the input light beam into first and second light beams having mutually-perpendicular linear states of polarization, and two output ports (FP2/1, FP2/2) each for receiving from the grating, substantially exclusively, a respective one of the polarized light beams (LT, LR) after diffraction by the diffraction grating (DG). Each of the linearly-polarized light beams is directed onto the diffraction grating with its linear state of polarization at any prescribed angle to a corresponding plane of diffraction of the diffraction grating. The arrangement is such that the state of polarization of the light beams, at any particular wavelength within an operating band of the analyzer remains substantially unchanged with respect to time. The analyzer also may have a reflector (RAM) for reflecting the light beams leaving the diffraction grating after diffraction a first time so as to return them to the diffraction grating for diffraction a second time.
Abstract:
An intensity-independent optical computing device and method for performing multivariate optical computing based on changes in polarization of the reflected and/or transmitted electromagnetic radiation to thereby determine sample characteristics.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an accurate and robust wavefront-division polarimetric analysis device, allowing the quasi-instantaneous measurement of the polarisation states of a luminous object. The wavefront-division polarimetric analysis device of the invention can be used to produce a plurality of light beams, all polarised according to different polarisation states, from a single upstream light beam. The polarised light beams, which do not overlap and which carry information items that are complementary in terms of polarisation, are analysed simultaneously by a plurality of detectors that measure the luminous intensity of each beam. Processing means digitally process the luminous intensity values obtained in order to determine the polarisation state of the upstream light beam. According to the invention, the operations performed by the processing means on the luminous intensity values prevent luminous intensity variations in the divided light beams during the division of the wavefront of the upstream light beam. Therefore the wavefront-division polarimetric analysis device of the invention is robust and its accuracy is not hindered by the experimental conditions. The invention further relates to a wavefront-division polarimetric analysis method for determining the polarisation state of an upstream light beam.
Abstract:
A near-field polarized-light measurement apparatus 10 comprises a near-field probe 14, an analyzer 18, a detector 22, and an analyzer-rotating unit 20. The near-field probe 14 has at a tip thereof an opening smaller than the wavelength of light used for measurement and generates linearly polarized near-field light from the opening and irradiates a sample with the near-field light. The detector 22 detects light transmitted through the sample via the analyzer 18. The analyzer-rotating unit 20 rotates the analyzer 18 about an optical axis to vary the angle of a transmission axis thereof. And optical rotation of the sample is measured by rotating the analyzer 18 with the analyzer-rotating unit 20.