High-speed polarization imaging camera based on electrically driven PLZT waveplate and split focal plane

We present a Stokes polarization camera prototype based on an electro-optic ceramic (PLZT) as the key polarization component. Two pairs of electrodes are used to control the applied electric field and so the retardance and orientation of the induced waveplate. The active area of the PLZT element is 120x120µm. To increase the effective active area, a 2D array PLZT is used. Imaging through this 2D array with reduced fill factor is achieved by splitting the focal plane. The focal plane is split by a microlenses array and interacts with each element of the ceramic array. A modified focal plane is reconstructed by another microlenses array. Digital image processing is used to recover the prime focal plane information. The technology used in this device (ceramic element, 2D array, imaging with split focal plane) as well as characterization of the ceramic element and preliminary results will be presented.

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