Polarizationsensitive

Polarization-sensitive (often written polarization-sensitive or polarisation-sensitive) describes a device, sensor, material, or system whose response depends on the polarization state of the incident electromagnetic radiation. In practice, this means that the output varies with the orientation or ellipticity of the electric field vector, rather than being identical for all polarization states.

Sensitivity to polarization arises from anisotropic optical properties or from the physical design of the instrument. Examples include dichroic absorption in linearly aligned molecules, birefringent materials that alter phase between polarization components, and detector geometries or coatings that preferentially couple to certain polarization directions. Polarization-sensitive devices can also be engineered in radio and microwave systems where antenna geometry, feeds, or metamaterials create polarization-selective responses.

Applications span multiple fields. Polarization-sensitive cameras and polarimetric imaging extract information about material properties, surface textures, and water content. In remote sensing and astronomy, polarization data help determine composition, magnetic fields, and scattering mechanisms. In spectroscopy and ellipsometry, polarization sensitivity reveals thin-film thickness and optical constants. Lidar and radar systems utilize polarization to improve target discrimination and characterization.

Characterization often employs Stokes parameters or Mueller matrices to describe and quantify the polarization state and the device’s response. Calibration with known polarization states is essential to separate intrinsic polarization sensitivity from instrumental effects. Related concepts include polarization optics, polarizers, and birefringent materials.