Models for polarization detection with the modified polarization interference imaging spectrometer

The polarization interference imaging spectrometer (PIIS) developed by Zhang et al. [Opt. Commun. 203 (2002) 21] can simultaneously acquire the spectral and spatial information of targets. However, the original PIIS system can only acquire two Stokes parameters due to the fixed fore linear polarizer. The limitation for polarization detection is analyzed. To acquire three Stokes parameters, two detecting models based on a modified PIIS are proposed. The first method employs a staring model with a rotatable fore linear polarizer. After remove the fore linear polarizer temporarily, the second method employs a windowing model with phase modulation. The possible errors introduced by the misregistration of polarization elements are analyzed.