Dual-comb spectroscopic polarimetry for full Jones matrix retrieval enabled by polarization-controlled pulse sequences

Spectroscopic polarimetry (SP) is a valuable technique for evaluating thin films, optical materials, and biological samples by revealing both polarimetric and spectroscopic properties. However, its performance is limited by mechanical instability and slow data acquisition due to polarization modulation. To address this, we combine dual-comb spectroscopic polarimetry (DCSP) with polarization-controlled pulse sequences having distinct polarizations and time delays. This approach enables detailed characterization of a sample’s polarization response using the Jones matrix, providing both real and imaginary components as a function of wavelength by simultaneously measuring the optical amplitude and phase spectra in two orthogonal polarizations. This method, termed Jones matrix DCSP (JM-DCSP), allows for accurate analysis of optical elements, with experimental results in good agreement with theoretical predictions. By eliminating the need for mechanical modulation and enabling multiplexed polarization probing, JM-DCSP enhances the precision and utility of SP across a broad spectral range and may be applied to various optical characterization scenarios.