Patent ID: 6744509
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: G01J

Abstract:
In a polarimeter for analyzing a state of polarization of a light beam incident thereon, said polarimeter including first and second variable retarders and a detector arrangement, wherein said first and second variable retarders are configured to exhibit first and second retardance values, respectively, which first and second retardance values are variable over an overall retardance range, a method comprising:directing said light beam through said first and second variable retarders; sweeping a selected one of said first and second retardance values progressively and unidirectionally through at least a part of said overall retardance range; for a plurality of retardance values that are produced as the selected one of the first and second retardance values is progressively and unidirectionally swept through said part of the overall retardance range, detecting at said detector arrangement at least a spatial portion of said light beam; and extracting said state of polarization based on said spatial portion of said light beam detected at said detector arrangement corresponding to said plurality of retardance values.