Resumen: While any 2D mixed state of polarization of light can be represented by a combination of a pure state and a fully random state, any Mueller matrix can be represented by a convex combination of a pure component and three additional components whose randomness is scaled in a proper and objective way. Such characteristic decomposition constitutes the appropriate framework for the characterization of the polarimetric randomness of the system represented by a given Mueller matrix and provides criteria for the optimal filtering of noise in experimental polarimetry. Idioma: Inglés DOI: 10.1364/AO.55.005449 Año: 2016 Publicado en: APPLIED OPTICS 55, 20 (2016), 5449-5455 ISSN: 1559-128X Factor impacto JCR: 1.65 (2016) Categ. JCR: OPTICS rank: 50 / 92 = 0.543 (2016) - Q3 - T2 Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.694 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Q1) - Engineering (miscellaneous) (Q1) - Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics (Q2)