Jones and Mueller matrices: structure, symmetry relations and information content

Abstract

Recent developments in processing techniques and detection hardware have opened new horizons for the application of light scattering methods based on the dynamic analysis of coherent scattered light. The increased computational power of modern microprocessors allows real-time data evaluation on standard desktop computers. The continuous improvement of detector arrays, such as cameras based on CCD or CMOS technologies, facilitate space-resolved detection of scattering intensities, which can be used to boost the statistical weight accumulated in a single experiment. New methods and improved accuracy on the other hand also provide answers to questions concerning the quantitative data interpretation which were only partially addressed in some of the earlier work.