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Title: Apparatus and method to recover the Mueller matrix in bright-field microscopy
We present a simple experiment developed for the advanced physics instructional laboratory to calculate the Mueller matrix of a microscopic sample. The Mueller matrix is obtained from intensity-based images of the sample acquired by a polarization-sensitive microscope. The experiment requires a bright-field microscope and standard polarizing optical components such as linear polarizers and waveplates. We provide a practical procedure for implementing the apparatus, measuring the complete Mueller matrix of linear polarizers used as samples, and discuss the possibility of analyzing biological samples using our apparatus and method. Due to the simplicity of the apparatus and method, this experiment allows students to increase their knowledge about light polarization and initiate their training in optical instrumentation.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2042563
PAR ID:
10394112
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
American Journal of Physics
Volume:
90
Issue:
9
ISSN:
0002-9505
Page Range / eLocation ID:
702 to 714
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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