Resonant microtaper leaky-mode computational spectropolarimetry with tens of femtometers spectral resolution and full stokes measurement

Abstract: Emerging computational measurement techniques for acquiring multi-dimensional optical field information, such as spectrum and polarization, are rapidly advancing and offer promising solutions for realizing high-performance miniature systems. The performance of these computational measurement approaches is critically influenced by the choice of random media, yet a general framework for evaluating different implementations remains absent. Here, we propose a universal analytical model for computational measurement systems and reveal that the system resolution is fundamentally determined by the maximum optical path difference (OPD) permitted within the random medium. Building on this theoretical foundation, we present a resonant leaky-mode (RLM) spectropolarimeter that achieves a record high resolution-footprint-product metric. The RLM spectropolarimeter leverages the complex coupling between leaky modes in a tapered coreless optical fiber and whispering-gallery modes (WGM) of microsphere to significantly enhance the maximum OPD within a compact footprint. We simultaneously achieve an ultrahigh spectral resolution of 0.02 pm, a spectral measurement bandwidth of 150 nm, and full-Stokes polarization measurement with an accuracy of $4.732 \times 10^{-6}$, all within a sub-square-millimeter footprint. The proposed theoretical model clarifies the key factors governing the performance of computational measurement systems based on random media and may inspires novel design of advanced computational measurement systems for optical field. The demonstrated RLM spectropolarimeter offers a potential approach for highly integrated, high-performance multi-dimensional optical field measurement.