This paper presents a 9-channel, spatially modulated partial Mueller matrix polarimeter that uses a spatial light modulator (SLM) to create the polarization state generator (PSG) modulation and a division of focal plane (DoFP) polarimeter as the polarization state analyzer (PSA) with a coventional 2×2 spatial modulation pattern. We demonstrate here how adapatation of the PSG modulation to the spectral structure of the scene can have significant benefits in reconstruction accuracy.
Recently we have presented theoretical predictions and numerical modeling that show that a more advanced processing scheme can significantly improve the performance of photoelastic modulator (PEM)-based Mueller polarimeters. Of note, by simply including all of the multi-carrier harmonics rather than a hand-selected subset thereof, the sensitivity of the system can be enhanced by up to a factor of six in certain elements of the Mueller matrix. This paper extends our work on PEM-based Mueller polarimeters to PEM-based partial Mueller systems with 2 PEMs, one PEM each in the generator and analyser. Our findings clearly demonstrates significant performance improvement through the use of a substantially large set of multi-carrier harmonics rather than a hand-selected subset. We also present results from our experimental PEM testbed system that verifies the numerical findings.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a method for establishing secure cryptographic keys between two parties who share an optical, “quantum” channel and an authenticated classical channel. To share such keys across the globe, space-based links are required and in the near term these will take the form of trusted node, key management satellites. We consider such channels between two nanosatellite spacecraft for polarization entanglement-based QKD, and the optical channel is described in detail. Quantum channels between satellites are useful for balancing keys within constellations of trusted node QKD satellites and, in the future, may have applications in long-distance qubit exchange between quantum computers and in fundamental physics experiments. The nanosatellite mission proposed uses an optical link with 80-mm diameter optical terminals. If such a link could be maintained with 10-μrad pointing accuracy, then this would allow QKD to be performed for satellite separations up to around 400 km. A potential pointing and tracking system is also described although currently this design would likely limit the satellite separation to 100 to 150 km.
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