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EnglishWhat Is Axometrics and What Does It Provide?
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Axometrics is a company that specializes in Mueller matrix polarization metrology — measurement systems that determine the polarization properties of materials and optical components. It provides polarization measurement instruments (AxoScan, AxoStep, EllipsoStep, and large/inline systems), calibration standards, light sources, and application-specific analysis software. Its systems are aimed at R&D laboratories, quality control, and production environments, with particular relevance to LCD panel testing, polarizer and retarder film measurement, birefringence testing, LCOS panels, anisotropic thin films, and circular polarizer testing and analysis.
What "Mueller matrix polarization metrology" means here
A Mueller matrix is a complete description of how a sample changes the polarization state of light passing through or reflecting off it. Instead of measuring one property at a time, an instrument that captures the full Mueller matrix can derive all of a sample's polarization properties in one measurement.
Axometrics states that its AxoScan and AxoStep systems measure the full Mueller matrix of samples, and that this makes them applicable to any situation where optical polarization matters. The company positions itself as the worldwide leader in Mueller matrix measurement systems for determining polarization properties of materials and optical components.
Products
| Product | What it is |
|---|---|
| AxoScan | Described as the fastest and most powerful polarization measurement tool available, used to test polarization-critical components |
| AxoStep | Described as the industry's first Mueller Matrix imaging microscope, based on AxoScan's measurement principles; measures polarization properties on a microscopic scale |
| EllipsoStep | Listed among the lab systems |
| Large & Inline Measurement | Systems for polarizer and retarder film, large/inline LCD panels, and large/inline ellipsometry |
| MALT-1, TVS-2, LED-1 | Light sources |
| Calibration Standards | Polarization standards, wavelength verification, and thin-film test standards |
| Software | Standard software plus application-specific software |
The product line is organized into polarimeters and ellipsometers, lab systems (AxoScan, AxoStep, EllipsoStep), large and inline measurement systems, light sources, calibration standards, and software.
Applications
Axometrics lists the following application areas:
- LCD panel testing
- Polarizers, retarders, and optical films
- Birefringence testing
- LCOS panels
- Anisotropic thin films
- Circular polarizer testing and analysis
The company also names liquid crystal displays, optical testing, optical films, and biomedical as key markets, and notes deployment across several key markets plus a wide range of smaller markets.
Software and analysis
Axometrics develops analysis software driven by customer requirements. The purpose of this software is to convert measured Mueller matrices into the key parameters for each application — for example, basic parameters or thin-film parameters. This matters because a raw Mueller matrix is not directly the number a production or R&D engineer needs; the application-specific software does that conversion.
Who it is for
The systems target R&D laboratories, quality control, and production. They are described as especially useful to those who need to flexibly use polarization elements and who need to understand all of their properties — that is, users who cannot get by with a single-property measurement.
Practical notes before you evaluate
- The site does not publish pricing, so cost and purchasing terms are not determinable from the available information.
- If your task is measuring one known property of a simple sample, a full-Mueller-matrix system may be more capability than you need; if your task is characterizing an unknown or multi-property polarization component, the full-matrix approach is the relevant category.
- For inline or large-panel production use, look at the Large & Inline Measurement line rather than the lab systems.
- For microscope-scale polarization imaging, AxoStep is the listed option.
The site also offers resources including tutorials, a polarization glossary, and further reading, which are useful starting points if you need background before choosing an instrument.