Linear polarization difference imaging and its potential applications

We demonstrate a novel linear polarization imaging technique and its potential application in dermatology. This technique records a series of images corresponding to different combinations of illumination and detection polarization and calculates intensity differences between orthogonal detection polarizations pixel by pixel. Fitting the polarization difference data to an analytical expression of the incident and detection polarization angles results in two new parameters, G and (phi3)/2. It is shown that G is strongly correlated to the order of alignment of the fibrous structure in the sample, and (phi3)/2 represents the angle of orientation of the fibers. Preliminary clinical testing implies that this method may be applied for medical diagnosis of skin diseases.