We present an approach to classical polarimetry that requires no moving parts, is compact and robust, and that encodes the complete polarization information on a single data frame, accomplished by replacing the rotation of components such as wave plates with position along a spatial axis. We demonstrate the concept with a polarimeter having a quarter wave plate whose fast axis direction changes with location along one axis of a 2D data frame in conjunction with a fixed-direction polarization analyzer, analogous to a classical rotating quarter wave plate polarimeter. The full set of Stokes parameters is obtained, with maximal sensitivity to circular polarization Stokes V if a quarter wave retarder is used. Linear and circular polarization terms are encoded with spatial carrier frequencies that differ by a factor two, which minimizes cross-talk. Other rotating component polarimeters lend themselves to the approach. Since the polarization modulation spatial frequencies do not change greatly, if at all, with wavelength such devices are close to achromatic, simplifying instrument design. Since the polarimetric information is acquired in a single observation, rapidly varying, transient and moving targets are accessible, loss of precision due to sequential data acquisition is avoided, and moving parts are not required.

中文翻译：

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经典旋光分析：一种紧凑的几何方法

我们提出了一种经典偏振测量方法，该方法不需要移动部件，紧凑而稳健，并且可以在单个数据帧上编码完整的偏振信息，这是通过将波片等组件的旋转替换为沿空间轴的位置来实现的。我们使用具有四分之一波片的旋光计来演示这一概念，该旋光计的快轴方向随着沿 2D 数据帧的一个轴的位置而变化，并结合固定方向偏振分析仪，类似于经典的旋转四分之一波片旋光计。获得全套斯托克斯参数，如果使用四分之一波延迟器，则对圆偏振斯托克斯 V 具有最大灵敏度。线性和圆偏振项使用相差两倍的空间载波频率进行编码，从而最大限度地减少串扰。其他旋转分量旋光计也适合这种方法。由于偏振调制空间频率不会随波长发生很大变化（如果有的话），因此此类设备接近消色差，从而简化了仪器设计。由于偏振信息是在单次观察中获取的，因此可以访问快速变化、瞬态和移动的目标，避免了由于顺序数据采集而导致的精度损失，并且不需要移动部件。