Mueller Matrix Associated with an Arbitrary 4×4 Real Matrix. The Effective Component of a Mueller Matrix

Due to the limited accuracy of experimental data, Mueller polarimetry can produce real 4×4 matrices that fail to meet required covariance or passivity conditions. A general and simple procedure to convert any real 4×4 matrix into a valid Mueller matrix by adding a portion of polarimetric white noise...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: José J. Gil, Ignacio San José
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Photonics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/3/230
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Summary:Due to the limited accuracy of experimental data, Mueller polarimetry can produce real 4×4 matrices that fail to meet required covariance or passivity conditions. A general and simple procedure to convert any real 4×4 matrix into a valid Mueller matrix by adding a portion of polarimetric white noise is presented. This approach provides deeper insight into the structure of Mueller matrices and has a subtle relation to the effective component of the Mueller matrix, which is defined through the subtraction of the fully random component of the characteristic decomposition. Up to a scale coefficient determined by the third index of polarimetric purity of the original Mueller matrix, the effective component retains complete information on the polarimetric anisotropies.
ISSN:2304-6732