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Abstract

Apparatus and method for determining dynamically the polarization vector direction, or polarization vector components and associated temporal phase angle, of a light beam. The apparatus includes a compact polarization beam splitter that receives a beam of light, separates the beam into two perpendicular polarization components and directs these components to a pair of optical detectors and associated circuits that form the sum and difference signals of the electrical signals produced by the optical detectors. This produces a projection of the polarization vector on a given direction. If the light is generally elliptically polarized, use of two such polarization beam splitters and four optical detectors allows reconstruction of the polarization ellipse for the light beam. Alternatively, use of one such polarization beam splitter, two optical detectors and a rotating wave plate in a multiplexed configuration allows reconstruction of the polarization ellipse. The polarization detector is very compact and may be housed in a container that is no more than a few cm. in diameter.

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First Claim