Fundamental limits on estimation of polarization properties of quasi-monochromatic light

Jerzy Nowakowski; Anthony Carillo

doi:10.1117/12.151040

13 August 1993 Fundamental limits on estimation of polarization properties of quasi-monochromatic light

Jerzy Nowakowski, Anthony Carillo

Proceedings Volume 1967, Characterization, Propagation, and Simulation of Sources and Backgrounds III; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.151040
Event: Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1993, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the estimation of parameters describing polarized and partially polarized light when radiation is collected with a receiver consisting of an array of incoherent detectors and registering light levels after passage through an array of retardation plates and analyzers. The results obtained in semiclassical limit include Poisson photon statistics. We obtain fundamental limits on estimation of parameters of interest as a function of the number of photons available, and determine the value of a priori knowledge for achieving the desired estimation accuracy for both signal and background shot noise limited condition. The results presented are applicable to both active and passive systems where measurements of polarization signatures can improve detection and/or discrimination of targets, or when polarization coding is used to transmit information.

Citation Download Citation

Jerzy Nowakowski and Anthony Carillo "Fundamental limits on estimation of polarization properties of quasi-monochromatic light", Proc. SPIE 1967, Characterization, Propagation, and Simulation of Sources and Backgrounds III, (13 August 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.151040

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