Near-infrared active and selective polarization imaging by orthogonality-breaking: calibration of the acquisition chain

Active polarimetric imaging by orthogonality breaking is an alternative polarimetric imaging method developed at the Institut FOTON, Rennes. By illuminating a sample with a dual-frequency dual-polarization (DFDP) beam whose polarizations are orthogonal, it is possible to characterize its diattenuation and the orientation of the anisotropy in a single acquisition. However, this technique is not sensitive to other polarimetric effects such as birefringence or pure depolarization and requires a detection/demodulation chain that introduces non-linearity effects and does not allow results to be obtained quantitatively. In this paper, after a presentation of the orthogonality-break imaging system, we will detail the calibration/correction protocol which is now implemented to take into account the effects of non-linearities. Then, we will show that it is possible, by adding a polarimetric analysis module, to make this method sensitive to the main polarimetric effects. The results obtained on a simulated operational scene will be presented.