Automatic measurement of the Stokes vector of light.

A system which measures the Stokes parameters of light automatically over a wide range of wavelengths is described. The method requires two piezooptic modulators, three lock-in amplifiers, and an on-line minicomputer for data processing. The absence of a static retardation plate provides an unprecedented insensitivity to beam wandering. Typical performance parameters such as response time, accuracy, and detectivity as a function of the incident polarization are given.