Abstract

The spectra obtained using a spectroradiometer are incorrect if the incident light from the sample is polarized, and if, at the same time, polarization is introduced into the transmitted beam by components of the spectroradiometer. Two methods are proposed for obtaining correct power reflectance spectra. One way is to average two incorrect reflectance spectra, which are taken at mutually orthogonal angles of rotation of the radiometer about its optical axis. Another way is by averaging reflectance spectra of mutually orthogonal polarized light components. When the orientation of one component is chosen such that it is in the plane of polarization of the incoming light, the latter method also gives the correct degree of polarization.

© 1979 Optical Society of America

Measurement of the polarization effects of an instrument using partially polarized light

Barton J. Howell
Appl. Opt. 18(6) 809-812 (1979)

Calibration of long wavelength Exotech model 20C spectroradiometer

R. Kumar, B. Robinson, and L. Silva
Appl. Opt. 18(13) 2334-2341 (1979)

Beam-splitter and cell-window errors in fluorescence spectrometry

Klaus D. Mielenz
Appl. Opt. 18(24) 4134-4137 (1979)

Polarization effects in gloss measurements

W. Budde
Appl. Opt. 18(13) 2252-2257 (1979)

Reflected irradiance indicatrices of natural surfaces and their effect on albedo

Frank D. Eaton and Inge Dirmhirn
Appl. Opt. 18(7) 994-1008 (1979)