Design, optimization and realization of a ferroelectric liquid crystal based Mueller matrix ellipsometer using a genetic algorithm

The design of complete broadband polarimeters with high performance is challenging due to the wavelength dependence of optical components. An efficient genetic algorithm computer code was recently developed in order to design and re-optimize complete broadband Stokes polarimeters and Mueller matrix ellipsometers. Our results are improvements of previous patented designs based on two and three ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs). FLC based polarimeters are suited for broadband hyperspectral imaging, or multichannel spectroscopy applications. We have realized and implemented one design using two FLCs and compare the spectral range and precision with previous designs. •A genetic computer algorithm has been developed to optimize Mueller matrix polarimeters.•We have realized an instrument based on the genetic algorithm design.•The new designs have wider spectral range and less noise amplification.