Laboratory polarimeter for measurement of the Stokes vector of light scattered from surfaces.

The laboratory polarimeter constructed at the Main Astronomical Observatory, AS Ukraine, is described. It measures all four Stokes parameters of light scattered from surfaces. The block diagram of the polarimeter is given, and the mathematical algorithm of its operation is described. The polarimeter is linked with a minicomputer, so that the data collection and processing are carried out automatically and realized in the dialogue mode. Characteristics of the polarimeter are listed. The instrumental polarization for the normalized Stokes parameters is no more than 0.01%. The polarimeter is used for investigation of diagnostic abilities of the Stokes vector in remote sensing of atmosphereless cosmic bodies.