Abstract

An imaging Stokes-vector polarimeter using liquid crystal variable retarders (LCVRs) has been built and calibrated. Operating in five bands from 450 to $700\text{\hspace{0.17em} nm}$, the polarimeter can be changed quickly between narrow (12°) and wide $\left(\sim \text{160}°\right)$ fields of view. The instrument is designed for studying the effects of differing sky polarization upon the measured polarization of ground-based objects. LCVRs exhibit variations in retardance with ray incidence angle and ray position in the aperture. Therefore LCVR-based Stokes polarimeters exhibit unique calibration challenges not found in other systems. Careful design and calibration of the instrument has achieved errors within $\pm 1.5\%$. Clear-sky measurements agree well with previously published data and cloudy data provide opportunities to explore spatial and spectral variations in sky polarization.

© 2006 Optical Society of America

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