Methods of Imaging with Photoelastic Modulators

Author: Dr. John Freudendthal
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Hinds Instruments Inc.

This paper highlights a range of options to utilize Photoelastic Modulators (PEMs) with imaging systems to generate full field polarimetric measurements. Due to the resonant nature of the polarization modulation, the change in polarization cannot be directly controlled and happens at the natural resonant frequency of the device. Typical resonant frequencies of PEMs are 40 kHz-60 kHz, and as such, the change in polarization is often faster than most imaging systems frame rate.