Advances in polarization imaging: Techniques and instrumentation

Abstract

Polarization imaging has drawn significant attention from the research fraternity for decades due to its prominent imaging capabilities across multidisciplinary fields. Polarization imaging is based on the study of vectorial properties of light and associated vectorial transformations resulting from light-matter interaction. The range of polarization imaging and its applications is so broad that it is very challenging to accommodate all relevant concepts and applications in a single literature. This review article is an attempt in this direction. This paper presents a concise review of polarization imaging from fundamental to advanced level, covering the essential elements, such as historical development, theoretical concepts, and experimental aspects of polarization imaging, followed by a brief introduction to traditional and modern polarization imaging instruments. This review article aims to provide a reference text for readers from various research backgrounds interested in polarization imaging.