Optimal frames for polarization state reconstruction
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Accepted version
Author(s)
Foreman, MR
Favaro, A
Aiello, A
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Complete determination of the polarization state of light requires at least four distinct projective measurements of the associated Stokes vector. Stability of state reconstruction, however, hinges on the condition number κ of the corresponding instrument matrix. Optimization of redundant measurement frames with an arbitrary number of analysis states, m, is considered in this Letter in the sense of minimization of κ. The minimum achievable κ is analytically found and shown to be independent of m, except for m=5 where this minimum is unachievable. Distribution of the optimal analysis states over the Poincaré sphere is found to be described by spherical 2 designs, including the Platonic solids as special cases. Higher order polarization properties also play a key role in nonlinear, stochastic, and quantum processes. Optimal measurement schemes for nonlinear measurands of degree t are hence also considered and found to correspond to spherical 2t designs, thereby constituting a generalization of the concept of mutually unbiased bases.
Date Issued
2015-12-26
Date Acceptance
2015-12-23
Citation
Physical Review Letters, 2015, 115 (26)
ISSN
1079-7114
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review Letters
Volume
115
Issue
26
Copyright Statement
© 2015 American Physical Society
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Physics
STOKES-POLARIMETER
MUELLER MATRIX
2ND-HARMONIC GENERATION
OPTIMIZATION
LIGHT
PHOTOPOLARIMETER
MINIMIZATION
PARAMETERS
ANGLES
ERROR
physics.optics
physics.optics
math-ph
math.MP
01 Mathematical Sciences
02 Physical Sciences
09 Engineering
General Physics
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 263901
Date Publish Online
2015-12-23