Imaging polarimetry through metasurface polarization gratings

Metasurfaces-subwavelength arrays of phase-shifting elements-present new possibilities for polarization optics and polarimetry. In particular, a periodic, polarization-sensitive metasurface diffraction grating can enable full-Stokes imaging polarimetry with a single polarization-sensitive component. In this work, we show that a suitably-designed metasurface grating can serve as a polarimetric attachment to an existing intensity-only imaging system, converting it into one capable of full-Stokes imaging polarimetry. Design rules and tradeoffs governing this adaptation are described and demonstrated using a machine vision imaging system as an example. (C) 2022 Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Optica Open Access Publishing Agreement

Automated summary

Metasurface gratings can serve as polarimetric attachments to existing intensity-only imaging systems, enabling full-Stokes imaging polarimetry.