Imaging polarimetry has emerged over the past three decades as a powerful tool to enhance the information available in a variety of remote sensing applications. We discuss the foundations of passive imaging polarimetry, the phenomenological reasons for designing a polarimetric sensor, and the primary architectures that have been exploited for developing imaging polarimeters. Considerations on imaging polarimeters such as calibration, optimization, and error performance are also discussed. We review many important sources and examples from the scientific literature.

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A computer-controlled Mueller matrix polarimeter with dual rotating retarders is described. Bulk properties of optical materials are determined by controlling the input-polarization state and measuring the output-polarization state. The Mueller matrix of a sample is obtained from polarimetric measurements, and polarization properties, i.e., diattenuation and retardance as well as depolarization, are extracted from the Mueller matrix. Further, fundamental electro- and magneto-optical material properties such as the electro-optical tensor coefficients may be obtained from Mueller matrices measured with applied fields. The polarimeter is currently configured to operate over the 3- to 12-microm spectral region.