Theoretical background

It is well known that knowledge of light intensity alone is not sufficient to fully understand optical phenomena such as wave reflection or scattering. The nature of light is vectorial, and it is this aspect that is taken into account when characterizing the polarization state of a wave. Compared with conventional intensity imaging, the use of polarimetric imaging enables us to take much more complete account of the information conveyed by light waves interacting with illuminated objects.

However, access to polarimetric quantities relies mainly on measuring quantities that are homogeneous to an intensity, i.e. the square of the electric field amplitude. Cameras, as sensors of light intensity, therefore remain essential elements of polarimetric imaging.

Access to polarimetric quantities from intensity measurements has been well known since...