Fig. 1. Side view of a collimated illumination field focused into a sample.

Fig. 2. Radial polarization state of light focused by an objective lens. For any azimuthal angle (φ), the electric field is always in the plane of incidence.

Fig. 3. Theoretical images generated numerically. Incident beam: (a) x-linear and (b) radial polarization.

Fig. 4. Schematic diagram for the polarimetric experimental setup.

Fig. 5. Experimental intensity distributions on the exit pupil plane of the objective lens when the sample is illuminated by: (a) x-linear and (b) radial polarization. Symmetrical dark zones, highlighted by the dashed lines, appear as a consequence of light reaching the Brewster angle.