Model-based azimuth misalignment mitigation in polarimetric imaging of layered birefringent structures

Müller matrix polarimetry provides a non-destructive quantitative tool for applications such as biological histopathological analysis by providing the advantage of non-labeled and high-contrast detection of samples. Although microstructures’ spatial orientation is a valuable information for disease diagnosis, Müller matrix-derived azimuthal parameter is deviated from its actual value for layered birefringent media. In this regard, this study thoroughly explores the sources of systematic deviations in the azimuthal angles of multilayer birefringent media in the Müller Matrix Polar Decomposition (MMPD) and Müller Matrix Transformation (MMT) computational methods and furthermore proposes a model-based correction strategy. By introducing a correction factor to compensate for the systematic deviation, this study strives to correct the deviation between the calculated and the true azimuth value in both methods. Comparison experiments are conceived to verify the universality of the correction strategy on both mono and multilayered structures. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed correction strategy can effectively mitigate the azimuthal deviation, which provides a method for more accurate quantitative assessment of the linear birefringence orientation of the medium in future Müller matrix polarimetry.