Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for an optical system including pairs of LCPGs and polarization controllers (e.g., waveplates) that can be controlled to effect multiple simultaneous focal planes, or to simultaneously image multiple focal planes.

Abstract: A polarimeter for receiving input electromagnetic radiation characterized by a polarization state and for determining the polarization state. The polarimeter includes a refractive arrangement for refracting the input electromagnetic radiation so as to provide a spatial pattern corresponding to the polarization state, and an image analysis arrangement for receiving the spatial pattern, producing an electronic image of the spatial pattern, and for determining the polarization state of the input electromagnetic radiation according to the electronic image of the spatial pattern.

Abstract: A polarization controller includes a plurality of liquid crystal cells positioned as cladding on a waveguide that propagates a beam of light so that the evanescent field extends into the liquid crystal cells, and a ½-wave birefringent retarder for rotating the eigenstates of polarization between the liquid crystal cells. For fast response, the evanescent field preferably extends only into the surface effect region of the liquid crystal cells, where directors in the liquid crystal respond faster to changes in voltages applied across the liquid crystal cells.

Abstract: In a polarimeter for analyzing a state of polarization of a light beam incident thereon, the polarimeter including first and second variable retarders configured to exhibit first and second retardance values, respectively, variable over an overall retardance range, and a detector arrangement, a method includes the steps of directing the light beam through the first and second variable retarders and sweeping a selected one of the first and second retardance values progressively and unidirectionally through at least a part of the overall retardance range to produce a plurality of retardance values. The method further includes the steps of, for the plurality of retardance values, detecting at the detector arrangement at least a spatial portion of the beam and extracting the state of polarization based on the spatial portion of the light beam detected at the detector arrangement corresponding to the plurality of retardance values.