Loss-less passive polarization rectifier design with minimal etendue and size increase

Abstract

We describe an approach allowing the passive rectification of the polarization of light with approximately the same beam size, minimal increase of the etendue of the beam and with negligible reduction of its power. This is done for arbitrary (including chaotic) input polarization states and without their prior identification. The tradeoff is the partial increase of the angular spectrum of light. Theoretical estimations are provided along with some preliminary experimental results describing the possible use of this approach with large diameter beams as well as in optical fibers.