Optimal polarization modulation and calibration schemes

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Casini, Roberto, Harrington, David M., de Wijn, Alfred G.
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2026
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author Casini, Roberto
Harrington, David M.
de Wijn, Alfred G.
author_facet Casini, Roberto
Harrington, David M.
de Wijn, Alfred G.
contents We review the algebraic definition of the efficiency of a polarization modulation scheme, which is commonly adopted for solar and stellar spectro-polarimetry applications, and generalize it to allow distinct states of the modulation cycle to have arbitrary throughput and different photon-noise statistics for each state. Such a generalization becomes necessary to model and optimize the polarimetric efficiency of instruments implementing spatial polarization modulation schemes, where different optical paths are assigned to different polarization analysis states, which may be characterized by different throughput values. The proposed algebraic extension also proves essential for introducing a workable concept of the efficiency of a polarization calibration scheme, which can then be used to create a merit function for the optimization of calibration sequences, which take into account the specific characteristics of the polarimetric instrument and of its calibration optics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_13997
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Optimal polarization modulation and calibration schemes
Casini, Roberto
Harrington, David M.
de Wijn, Alfred G.
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
We review the algebraic definition of the efficiency of a polarization modulation scheme, which is commonly adopted for solar and stellar spectro-polarimetry applications, and generalize it to allow distinct states of the modulation cycle to have arbitrary throughput and different photon-noise statistics for each state. Such a generalization becomes necessary to model and optimize the polarimetric efficiency of instruments implementing spatial polarization modulation schemes, where different optical paths are assigned to different polarization analysis states, which may be characterized by different throughput values. The proposed algebraic extension also proves essential for introducing a workable concept of the efficiency of a polarization calibration scheme, which can then be used to create a merit function for the optimization of calibration sequences, which take into account the specific characteristics of the polarimetric instrument and of its calibration optics.
title Optimal polarization modulation and calibration schemes
topic Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.13997