Abstract

By introducing a quarterwave plate into a video polarimeter, we are able to extract all Stokes parameters of light scattered from any sample.² After mapping out the degree of polarization of a linearly polarized light transmitted through a polycarbonate plate, we can observe the flow lines from the contour of its degree of polarization. In flows, the axisymmetrical particles tend to be oriented along the direction of flow, and are usually used as seeds for flow visualization. Since a PC-plate is constructed by long-chain polymers, the contour of its polarization properties can provide a visible flow with embedded seeds. Besides, the solid structure of the PC-plate is an ideal frozen flow for studying. A numerical simulated flow is used for comparison.

© 1991 Optical Society of America