Spatiotemporal observations of light propagation in multiple polarization states.

ABSTRACT

Real-time imaging techniques involving light propagation are commonly applied in the fields of physics, chemistry, and biomedicine. However, conventional techniques provide only the intensity change associated with light propagation. Here, we propose an imaging technique to visualize the ultrafast behavior of the polarization state of a propagating light pulse with four different linear polarization components. This approach provides ultrahigh temporal resolution to observe the light in motion. We recorded a motion picture of a three-dimensional image of a light pulse propagating through a diffuser and a calcite crystal at 56.8 and 75.4 ps, respectively. This technique can contribute to revealing the polarization state of propagating light pulses in a medium and ultrafast phenomenon.