Three-dimensional polarimetric imaging in a snapshot

The present work generalizes the theoretical model of the rotating PSF imaging based three-dimensional (3D) localization of point sources to high numerical aperture (NA) microscopy for which non-paraxial propagation of the imaging beam and the associated nontrivial vector character of light fields must be properly accounted for. Our analysis supports the prospects of simultaneous acquisition of the state of polarization and 3D location of a point source with high-NA objectives. A second approach for doing joint polarimetry and localization using a specialized birefringent plate without the need for high-NA objectives is also discussed briefly.