Switchable imaging polarimeter and method

A method of polarizing light with a polarimeter comprising,

• receiving incoming light;
• rotating the incoming light with an adjustable circular retarder;
• polarizing the light with a polarization beam splitter by reflecting a first portion of light having a first polarization to a first optical assembly and transmitting a second portion of light having a second polarization through the polarization beam splitter to a second optical assembly;
• rotating the polarization of the first portion of light and reflecting the first portion of light back to the polarization beam splitter with the first optical assembly such that the first portion of light is transmitted through the polarization beam splitter and directed to a focal plane;
• and
• selectively operating the polarimeter in either (i) a first mode which comprises rotating the polarization of the second portion of light and reflecting the second portion of light back to the polarization beam splitter with the second optical assembly such that the second portion of light is reflected by the polarization beam splitter and directed to the focal plane, or (ii) a second mode which comprises absorbing the second portion of light with the second optical assembly.

A switchable polarimeter comprising,

• an optical assembly;
• a first adjustable circular retarder that rotates the polarization content of incoming light;
• a polarization beam splitter that receives light from the adjustable circular retarder and polarizes the light into light having a first polarization and light having a second polarization, wherein the light with the first polarization is directed to a focal plane and the light with the second polarization is directed to the optical assembly;
• wherein the optical assembly is switchable between an imaging mode of operation in which the light with the first polarization and the light with the second polarization are viewable at the focal plane, and a polarizing mode of operation in which the light with the first polarization is viewable at the focal plane in absence of the light with the second polarization.