Global parameters for characterizing the radial and azimuthal polarization content of totally polarized beams

Abstract: Several global parameters are proposed to characterize the radial and azimuthal polarization content of non-uniformly totally polarized beams. Such figures of merit can be written and measured in terms of two Stokes parameters, and also from the data at the output of either a radial or an azimuthal dichroic polarizer, integrated throughout the beam profile. The measurability of the proposed parameters has also been experimentally checked. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]