A circular polarization filter of a chiral metasurface structure is disclosed including a substrate having a nanograting pattern extending from the substrate, a dielectric layer formed directly on the nanograting pattern, and a plasmonic structure in direct contact with the dielectric layer, where the plasmonic structure may be oriented at a nonzero angle with respect to the nanograting pattern. An integrated polarization filter array is also disclosed including include a linear polarization filter, and a circular polarization filter. Methods of detecting full-stokes polarization using an integrated polarization filter array having both linear and circular polarization filters made from chiral metasurface structures is disclosed. Methods of using a Mueller matrix to evaluate polarization response of any optical device or system is also disclosed.

A circular polarization filter of a chiral metasurface structure is disclosed including a substrate having a nanograting pattern extending from the substrate, a dielectric layer formed directly on the nanograting pattern, and a plasmonic structure in direct contact with the dielectric layer, where the plasmonic structure may be oriented at a nonzero angle with respect to the nanograting pattern. An integrated polarization filter array is also disclosed including include a linear polarization filter, and a circular polarization filter. Methods of detecting full-stokes polarization using an integrated polarization filter array having both linear and circular polarization filters made from chiral metasurface structures is disclosed. Methods of using a Mueller matrix to evaluate polarization response of any optical device or system is also disclosed.

A detection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes: an imaging unit; an illumination unit; a polarization control unit; and a generation unit. The imaging unit generates image data on the basis of incident light. The illumination unit illuminates a subject with linearly polarized light. The polarization control unit controls a polarization state of light to be detected, the light to be detected travelling toward the imaging unit. The generation unit generates information regarding a degree of linear polarization of the light to be detected, on the basis of image data regarding the light to be detected, the polarization state of the light to be detected having been controlled, the image data regarding the light to be detected being generated by the imaging unit.

A detection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes: an imaging unit; an illumination unit; a polarization control unit; and a generation unit. The imaging unit generates image data on the basis of incident light. The illumination unit illuminates a subject with linearly polarized light. The polarization control unit controls a polarization state of light to be detected, the light to be detected travelling toward the imaging unit. The generation unit generates information regarding a degree of linear polarization of the light to be detected, on the basis of image data regarding the light to be detected, the polarization state of the light to be detected having been controlled, the image data regarding the light to be detected being generated by the imaging unit.

Provided is a polarization imaging unit that acquires a polarization image using a lens. In a parameter storage unit of an information processing unit, parameters related to a change in polarization state due to the lens which are estimated in advance from polarization state information acquired by imaging a light source in a predetermined polarization state using the lens and polarization state information indicating the polarization state of the light source, for example, change parameters indicating the change in polarization state due to the lens or correction parameters for correcting the change in polarization state due to the lens are stored. A polarization state correction unit of the information processing unit corrects the change in polarization state due to the lens, using the parameters stored in advance in the parameter storage unit.

Provided is a polarization imaging unit that acquires a polarization image using a lens. In a parameter storage unit of an information processing unit, parameters related to a change in polarization state due to the lens which are estimated in advance from polarization state information acquired by imaging a light source in a predetermined polarization state using the lens and polarization state information indicating the polarization state of the light source, for example, change parameters indicating the change in polarization state due to the lens or correction parameters for correcting the change in polarization state due to the lens are stored. A polarization state correction unit of the information processing unit corrects the change in polarization state due to the lens, using the parameters stored in advance in the parameter storage unit.

A combined multi-spectral and polarization (CMSP) sensor is disclosed that enhances contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The CMSP sensor comprises a multi-spectral and polarization (MSP) filter, a single focal plane array (FPA), and a controller. The FPA comprises a plurality of detectors and the MSP filter comprises at least a first bandpass filter having a first frequency range and a second bandpass filter having a second frequency range that is distinct from the first frequency range and a first polarization filter having a first polarization value and a second polarization filter having a second polarization value that is distinct from the first polarization value.

A combined multi-spectral and polarization (CMSP) sensor is disclosed that enhances contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The CMSP sensor comprises a multi-spectral and polarization (MSP) filter, a single focal plane array (FPA), and a controller. The FPA comprises a plurality of detectors and the MSP filter comprises at least a first bandpass filter having a first frequency range and a second bandpass filter having a second frequency range that is distinct from the first frequency range and a first polarization filter having a first polarization value and a second polarization filter having a second polarization value that is distinct from the first polarization value.

The system and method for imaging having filter containing polarized elements, multispectral elements or both being oscillated in circular or linear motion so each individual pixel will view a scene thru the individual filters. The motion of the filter is synchronized with a frame rate of an imager. In one example this is accomplished by micro actuators. Each pixel sampling feeds a processor detection algorithm that determines if a multispectral/polarization signature is present in the scene.

In order to estimate a polarization fluctuation speed with high accuracy independently of the quality of a received signal, a polarization-fluctuation estimating device according to the present invention includes: a polarization de-multiplexing unit that generates a single-polarization optical signal from an input polarization-multiplexed optical signal; a photoelectric converting unit that converts the generated optical signal into an electrical signal; and an estimation unit that estimates the polarization fluctuation speed of the polarization-multiplexed optical signal in accordance with the electrical signal.