Achromatic polarimeter

A polarimeter for measuring complete state of polarization of light in a wide spectral range is investigated. The light beam to be analyzed propagates through a continuously rotating first-phase plate; then through a continuously rotating second-phase plate; and, passing through a stationary linear polarizer, is incident on a detector. The time dependence of the intensity of the light beam that propagated though the polarizer is recorded. Fourier analysis of the periodic time dependence of the intensity yields the state of polarization of the light, which is characterized by four Stokes parameters. It is shown that the relation between the rotational velocities of the two phase plates and their thicknesses can be chosen such that the working range of the polarimeter would be limited only by the transparency range of the birefringent material of the phase plates, the working range of the linear polarizer, and that of the detector.