Download Polarized and unpolarised transverse waves

Survey
yes no Was this document useful for you?
   Thank you for your participation!

* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project

Document related concepts
no text concepts found
Transcript
Polarized and unpolarised transverse waves
T. Johnson
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
1
Outline
•  The quarter wave plate
•  Set up coordinate system suitable for transverse waves
•  Jones calculus; matrix formulation of how wave polarization
changes when passing through polarizing component
–  Examples: linear polarizer, quarter wave plate, Faraday rotation
•  Statistical representation of incoherent/unpolarized waves
–  Stokes vector and polarization tensor
•  Poincare sphere
•  Muller calculus;
matrix formulation
for the transmission of
partially polarized waves
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
2
Modifying wave polarization in a quarter wave plate (1)
•  Last lecture we noted that in birefringent crystals:
–  there are two modes: O-mode and X-mode
⎧ nO 2 = K⊥
⎪
⎨ 2
K⊥K||
⎪ n X =
2
2
K
sin
θ
+
K
cos
θ
⎩
⊥
||
⎧⎪eO (k) = (0 , 1 , 0)
⎨
⎪⎩e X (k) ∝ (K|| cosθ , 0 , K⊥ sinθ)
–  thus if K⊥ > K|| then nO ≥ n X
the O-mode has larger phase velocity
€
€ •  Next describe Quarter wave plates
–  uniaxial crystal; normal in z-direction
€
c
π /2
–  length L in the x-direction: L =
€
ω K|| − K⊥
–  Let a wave travel in the x-direction, then k is in the x-direction and θ=π/2
⎧⎪ n 2 = K
O
⊥
⎨ 2
⎪⎩ n X = K||
13-02-15
⎧eO (k) = (0 , 1 , 0)
⎨€
⎩e X (k) = (0 , 0 , 1)
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
3
Modifying wave polarization in a quarter wave plate (2)
•  Plane wave ansats has to match dispersion relation
–  when the wave entre the crystal it will move slow, this corresponds to a
change in wave length, or k
ωnO ω
ωn X ω
kO =
=
K⊥ , k X =
=
K||
c
c
c
c
–  since the O- and X-mode travel at different speeds we write
€
E( t, x ) = ℜ{eO E O exp(ikO x − iωt) + e X E X exp(ikX x − iωt)}
•  Assume as initial condition a linearly polarized wave
€
E = [1 1 0] = (eO + e X ) ⇒ E O = E X = 1
⇒ E( t, x ) = ℜ{eO exp(ikO x − iωt) + e X exp(ikX x − iωt)}
= eO cos(kO x − ωt) + e X cos(kO x − ωt + Δkx) , Δk ≡ k X − kO
€
–  the difference in wave number causes the O- and X-mode to
drift in and out of phase with each other!
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
4
Modifying wave polarization in a quarter wave plate (3)
•  The polarization when the wave exits the crystal at x=L
E( t, x ) = [eO cos(kO L − ωt) + e X cos(kO L − ωt + ΔkL)] , Δkx = π /2
= [eO cos(kO L − ωt) − e X sin(kO L − ωt)]
€
L=
c
π /2
ω K|| − K⊥
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
This is cicular polarization!
€
The crystal converts linear to circular polarization (and
vice versa)
Called a quarter wave plate; a common component in optical systems
But work only at one wave length – adapted for e.g. a specific laser!
In general, waves propagating in birefringent crystal change polarization
back and forth between linear to circular polarization
–  Switchable wave plates can be made from liquid crystal
•  angle of polarization can be switched by electric control system
•  Similar effect is Faraday effect in magnetoactive media
–  but the eigenmode are the circularly polarized components
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
5
Optical systems
•  In optics, interferometry, polarometry, etc, there is an interest
in following how the wave polarization changes when passing
through e.g. an optical system.
•  For this purpose two types of calculus have been developed;
–  Jones calculus; only for coherent (polarized) wave
–  Muller calculus; for both coherent, unpolarised and partially polarised
•  In both cases the wave is given by vectors E and S (defined
later) and polarizing elements are given by matrixes J and M
E out = J • E in
Sout = M • Sin
13-02-15
€
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
6
The polarization of transverse waves
•  Lets first introduce a new coordinate system representing
vectors in the transverse plane, i.e. perpendicular to the k.
–  Construct an orthonormal basis for {e1,e2,κ}, where κ=k/|k|
–  The transverse plane is then given by {e1,e2}, where
e2
α
α
i i
e =e e
k
e1
–  where α=1,2 and ei , i=1,2,3 is any basis for R3
–  denote e1 the horizontal and e2 the vertical directions
€•  The electric field then has different component
representations: Ei (for i=1,2,3) and Eα (for α=1,2)
E i = eαi E α
–  similar for the polarization vector, eM
eM ,i = eαi eαM
€
€
The new coordinates provides 2D representations
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
7
Some simple Jones Matrixes
•  In the new coordinate system the Jones matrix is 2x2:
J
⎡ J11
= ⎢
⎣J 21
αβ
J12 ⎤
⎥
J 22 ⎦
α
E out
= J αβ E inβ
•  Example: Linear polarizer transmitting horizontal polarization
€
J
αβ
L,V
⎡1 0 ⎤
⎡1 0 ⎤ ⎡ E H ⎤ ⎡ E H ⎤
= ⎢
⎥ → ⎢
⎥ ⎢ ⎥ = ⎢ ⎥
⎣0 0 ⎦
⎣0 0 ⎦ ⎣ E V ⎦ ⎣ 0 ⎦
•  Example: Attenuator transmitting a fraction ρ of the energy
€
–  Note: energy ~ ε0|E|2
⎡1 0 ⎤
J Att (ρ) = ρ ⎢
⎥ →
⎣0 1 ⎦
αβ
13-02-15
⎡1 0 ⎤⎡ E H ⎤
⎡ E H ⎤
ρ ⎢
⎥⎢ ⎥ = ρ ⎢ ⎥
⎣0 1 ⎦⎣ E V ⎦
⎣ E V ⎦
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
8
Jones matrix for a quarter wave plate
•  Quarter wave plates are birefringent
(have two different refractive index)
–  align the plate such that horizontal / veritical polarization
(corresponding to O/X-mode) has wave numbers k1 / k2
⎡ E H (x) ⎤ ⎡ E H (0)exp(ik1 x) ⎤
⎥
⎢
⎥ = ⎢
2
⎣ E V (x) ⎦ ⎣ E V (0)exp(ik x) ⎦
–  let the light entre the plate start at x=0 and exit at x=L
⎡e ik1 L
E(L) = ⎢
⎣ 0
€
0 ⎤ ⎡ E H (0) ⎤
⎥
⎥ ≡ J Ph E(L)
ik 2 L ⎢
e ⎦ ⎣ E V (0) ⎦
–  where Ph stands for phaser
•  Quarter wave plates chages the relative phase by π/2
⎡1 0 ⎤
€
1
2
ik 1 L
k L − k L = ±π /2 →JQ = e ⎢
⎥
⎣0 ±i ⎦
–  usually we considers only relative phase and skip factor exp(ik1L)
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
9
Jones matrix for a rotated birefringent media
•  If a birefringent media (e.g. quarter wave plates) is not aligned
with the axis of our coordinate system with axis of the media
–  then we may use a rotation matrix
⎡cos(θ) −sin(θ) ⎤
−1
R(θ) = ⎢
→
R
(θ) = R(−θ)
⎥
⎣ sin(θ) cos(θ) ⎦
EM2
e2
–  Eigenmode have directions as in the fig.:
€
⎡cos(θ) ⎤
⎡−sin(θ) ⎤
E(x) = E M 1 (x) ⎢
⎥ + E M 2 (x) ⎢
⎥
sin(θ)
cos(θ)
⎣
⎦
⎣
⎦
EM1
θ
e1
–  apply two rotation: first -θ and then +θ, i.e. no net rotation:
€
⎛
⎡ E M 1 (x) ⎤
⎡cos(θ) ⎤
⎡−sin(θ) ⎤⎞
E(x) = R(θ)R(−θ)⎜ E M 1 (x) ⎢
⎥ =
⎥ + E M 2 (x) ⎢
⎥⎟ = R(θ) ⎢
⎣ sin(θ) ⎦
⎣ cos(θ) ⎦⎠
⎣ E M 2 (x) ⎦
no net rotation ⎝
ik 1 x
⎡e ik 1 x
⎤
⎡
⎡
⎤
E M 1 (0)
0
e
0 ⎤
= R(θ) ⎢
⎥⎢
⎥
⎥ → J Ph = R(θ) ⎢
ik 2 x
ik 2 x
⎣ 0 e ⎦⎣ E M 2 (0) ⎦
⎣ 0 e ⎦
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
10
Jones matrix for a Faraday rotation
•  Faraday rotation is similar to birefrigency, except that
eigenmodes have circularly polarized eigenvector
1 ⎡1⎤
1 ⎡ 1 ⎤
E(x) = E M 1 (x)
⎢ ⎥ + E M 2 (x)
⎢ ⎥
i
2 ⎣ ⎦
2 ⎣ −i ⎦
–  there is no useful rotation matrix
–  instead use a unitary matrix
1 ⎡1 −i ⎤
1 ⎡1 i ⎤
−1
U=
⎢
⎥ → U =
⎢
⎥
1
i
1
−i
2 ⎣
2 ⎣
⎦
⎦
€
⎛
⎡
⎤
⎡1⎤
⎡ 1 ⎤⎞
−1 E M 1 (x)
E(x) = U U⎜ E M 1 (x) ⎢ ⎥ + E M 2 (x) ⎢ ⎥⎟ = U ⎢
⎥ =
⎣i ⎦
⎣−i ⎦⎠
⎣ E M 2 (x) ⎦
⎝
ik 1 x
⎡e ik 1 x
⎤
⎡
⎤
⎡
⎤
E
(0)
0
e
0
M1
−1
= U −1 ⎢
→
J
=
U
⎢
⎥
⎥
2 ⎥ ⎢
FR
ik x
ik 2 x
⎣ 0 e ⎦⎣ E M 2 (0) ⎦
⎣ 0 e ⎦
−1
€
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
11
Outline
•  The quarter wave plate
•  Set up coordinate system suitable for transverse waves
•  Jones calculus; matrix formulation of how wave
polarization changes when passing through polarizing
component
–  Examples: linear polarizer, quarter wave plate, Faraday rotation
•  Statistical representation of incoherent/unpolarized waves
–  Stokes vector and polarization tensor
•  Poincare sphere
•  Muller calculus; matrix formulation for the transmission of
partially polarized waves
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
12
Incoherent/unpolarised
•  Many sources of electromagnetic radiation are not coherent
–  they do not radiate perfect harmonic oscillations (sinusoidal wave)
•  over short time scales the oscillations look harmonic
•  but over longer periods the wave look incoherent, or even stochastic
–  such waves are often referred to as unpolarised
•  To model such waves we will consider the electric field to be a stochastic
process, i.e. it has
–  an average: < Eα (t,x) >
–  a variance: < Eα (t,x) Eβ (t,x) >
–  a covariance: < Eα (t,x) Eβ (t+s,x+y) >
•  In this chapter we will focus on the variance, which we will refer to as the
intensity tensor
Iαβ = < Eα (t,x) Eβ (t,x) >
and the polarization tensor (where eM=E / |E| is the polarization vector)
pαβ = < eMα (t,x) eMβ (t,x) >
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
13
The Stokes vector
•  It can be shown that the intensity tensor is hermitian
–  thus it can be described by four Stokes parameter {I,Q,U,V} :
1 ⎡ I + Q U − iV ⎤
αβ
I = ⎢
⎥
U
+
iV
I
−
Q
2 ⎣
⎦
•  A basis for hermitian matrixes is a set of unitary four matrixes:
€
αβ
1
τ
⎛1 0⎞
⎛1 0 ⎞
⎛0 1⎞
⎛0 −i⎞
αβ
αβ
αβ
= ⎜
⎟ , τ2 = ⎜
⎟ , τ3 = ⎜
⎟ , τ4 = ⎜
⎟
0
1
0
−1
1
0
i
0
⎝
⎠
⎝
⎠
⎝
⎠
⎝
⎠
–  where the last three matrixes are the Pauli matrixes
€
•  Define the Stokes vector: SA=[I,Q,U,V]
I
αβ
I αβ
13-02-15
⎛ 1 0 ⎞
⎛ 0 1⎞
⎛0 −i⎞ ⎤
1 ⎡ ⎛1 0⎞
= ⎢I⎜
⎟ + Q⎜
⎟ + U⎜
⎟ + V ⎜
⎟ ⎥
2 ⎣ ⎝0 1⎠
⎝ 0 −1⎠
⎝ 1 0⎠
⎝ i 0 ⎠ ⎦
1
αβ αβ
= ταβ
A S A with inverse : S A = τ A I
2
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
14
Representations for the polarization tensor
•  The polarization tensor has similar representation
–  Note: trace(pαβ)=1, thus it is described by three parameter {q,u,v} :
αβ
p
1 ⎡⎛ 1 0⎞ ⎛1 0 ⎞ ⎛0 1⎞ ⎛ 0 −i⎞⎤
= ⎢⎜
⎟ + q⎜
⎟ + u⎜
⎟ + v⎜
⎟⎥
2 ⎣⎝ 0 1⎠ ⎝0 −1⎠ ⎝1 0⎠ ⎝ i 0 ⎠⎦
•  As we will show in the following slides the four terms above
€
represents different types of polarization
–  unpolarised (incoherent)
–  linear polarization
–  circular polarization
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
15
Examples
•  For example consider:
–  linearly polarised wave eMα=[1,0]
αβ
p
⎡1 ⎤
⎡1 0 ⎤ 1 ⎛ ⎡1 0 ⎤ ⎡1 0 ⎤⎞
= e e = ⎢ ⎥[1 0] = ⎢
⎥ = ⎜ ⎢
⎥ +1⎢
⎥⎟
⎣0 ⎦
⎣0 0 ⎦ 2 ⎝ ⎣0 1 ⎦ ⎣0 −1⎦⎠
α
M
β*
M
•  i.e. {q,u,v}={1,0,0}
–  rotate linearly polarization by 45o, eMα=[1,1] / 21/2
€
⎡1 1⎤ 1 ⎛ ⎡1 0 ⎤ ⎡0 1 ⎤⎞
1 ⎡1⎤
αβ
α β*
p = eM eM = ⎢ ⎥[1 1] = ⎢
⎥ = ⎜ ⎢
⎥ +1⎢
⎥⎟
2 ⎣1⎦
⎣1 1⎦ 2 ⎝ ⎣0 1 ⎦ ⎣1 0 ⎦⎠
•  i.e. {q,u,v}={0,1,0}
–  a circularly polarised wave, eMα=[1,-i] / 21/2
€
p
αβ
1 ⎡1⎤
1 ⎡1 −i ⎤ 1 ⎛ ⎡1 0 ⎤ ⎡0 −i ⎤⎞
= e e = ⎢ ⎥[1 −i] = ⎢
⎥ = ⎜ ⎢
⎥ +1⎢
⎥⎟
2 ⎣i ⎦
2 ⎣i 1 ⎦ 2 ⎝ ⎣0 1 ⎦ ⎣ i 0 ⎦⎠
α
M
β*
M
•  i.e. {q,u,v}={0,0,1}
13-02-15
€
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
16
The polarization tensor for unpolarized waves (1)
•  What are the Stokes parameters for unpolarised waves?
–  Let the eM1 and eM2 be independent stochastic variable
pαβ
⎛ e1M ⎞*
=< ⎜ 2 ⎟ (e1M
⎝ eM ⎠
⎡ < e1 *e1 > < e1 *e 2 >⎤
M
M
⎥
eM2 ) >= ⎢ M2 * 1M
*
2
2
⎣ < eM eM > < eM eM >⎦
–  Since eM1 and eM2 are uncorrelated the offdiagonal term vanish
pαβ
€
⎡<| e1M |2 >
0 ⎤
= ⎢
2 2 ⎥
<| eM | > ⎦
⎣ 0
1 2
M
2 2
M
=1
–  The vector eM is normalised: e + e
–  By symmetry (no physical difference between eM1 and eM2 )
€
€
1 2
M
2 2
M
e
=e
= 1/2
–  the polarization tensor
€ then reads
1 ⎡1 0 ⎤
αβ
p = ⎢
⎥
2 ⎣0 1 ⎦
–  i.e. unpolarised have {q,u,v}={0,0,0}!
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
17
€
The polarization tensor for unpolarized waves (2)
•  Alternative derivation; polarization vector for unpolarized waves
–  Note first that the polarization vector is normalised
eM
2
2
= e1M + eM2
2
= 1 ~ cos2 (θ) + sin 2 (θ)
⎛e1M ⎞ ⎛e iφ 1 cos(θ)⎞
–  the polarization is complex and stochastic: ⎜ 2 ⎟ = ⎜ iφ
⎟
2
⎝eM ⎠ ⎝ e sin(θ) ⎠
•  where θ, φ and φ are
1
2
uniformly distibuted in [0,2π]
€
•  The corresponding polarization tensor
pαβ
⎛ e1M ⎞*
=< ⎜ 2 ⎟ (e1M
⎝ eM ⎠
−iφ 1 +iφ 2
€
⎛e −iφ 1 +iφ 1 cos(θ)cos(θ)
e
cos(θ)sin(θ)⎞
2
eM ) >=< ⎜ −iφ 2 +iφ 1
⎟ >
−iφ 2 +iφ 2
sin(θ)cos(θ) e
sin(θ)sin(θ) ⎠
⎝ e
–  here the average is over the three random variables θ, φ1 and φ2
€
1
pαβ =
(2π) 3
⎛
cos2 (θ)
e −iφ 1 +iφ 2 cos(θ)sin(θ)⎞ 1 ⎛1 0⎞
⎟ = ⎜
⎟
∫ dθ ∫ dφ1 ∫ dφ 2⎜e −iφ 2 +iφ 1 sin(θ)cos(θ)
2
0
1
2
sin (θ)
⎝
⎠
⎝
⎠
0
0
0
2π
2π
2π
–  i.e. unpolarised have {q,u,v}={0,0,0}!
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
18
Poincare sphere
•  The polarised part of a wave field describes the normalised
vector {q/r,u/r,v/r} where r = q 2 + u 2 + v 2 is the degree of polarization
–  since this vector is real and normalised it will represent points on a
sphere, the so called Poincare sphere
€
u
r
•  Thus, any transverse wave field can
be described by
–  a point on the Poincare sphere
–  a degree of polarization, r
q
v
Poincare sphere
•  A polarizing element induces a motion on the sphere
–  e.g. when passing though a birefringent crystal we trace a circle on the
Poincare sphere
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
19
Outline
•  Set up coordinate system suitable for transverse waves
•  Jones calculus; matrix formulation of how wave
polarization changes when passing through polarizing
component
–  Examples: linear polarizer, quarter wave plate, Faraday rotation
•  Statistical representation of incoherent/unpolarized waves
–  Stokes vector and polarization tensor
•  Poincare sphere
•  Muller calculus; a matrix formulation for the transmission
of arbitrarily polarized waves
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
20
Weakly anisotropic media
•  Next we will study Muller calculus for partially polorized waves
•  We will do so for weakly anisotropic media:
K αβ = n 0 2δαβ + ΔK αβ
€
–  where ΔKαβ is a small perturbation
–  although Muller calculus is not restricted to weak anisotropy
•  The wave equation
(n
2
)
− n 0 2 E α = ΔK αβ E α
–  when ΔKij is a small, the 1st order dispersion relation reads: n2≈n02
–  the left hand side can then be expanded to give
€
small, <<1
⎡ (n − n 0 ) ⎤
x
n − n = (n − n 0 )(n + n 0 ) = (n − n 0 )n 0 ⎢2 +
⎥ ≈ 2n 0 (n − n 0 )
n 0 ⎦
⎣
2
2
0
2n 0 (n − n 0 )E α ≈ ΔK αβ E α
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
21
The wave equation as an ODE
•  Make an eikonal ansatz (assume k is in the x-direction):
⎛ ω
⎞ ⎛ ω
⎞
E = E (t)exp(ikx ) = E (t)exp⎜i n 0 x ⎟ exp⎜i ( n − n 0 ) x ⎟
⎝ c
⎠ ⎝ c
⎠
α
α
0
α
0
dE α
ω
ω
α
= i n 0 E + i (n − n 0 ) E α
dx
c
c
same expression as
on previous page!
•  The wave equation can then be written as
dE α
n 0ω α
ω
= −i
E +i
ΔK αβ E α
dx
c
2cn 0
€
–  describe how the wave changes when propagating through a media!
€
•  Wave equation for the intensity tensor:
dI αβ
d
iω
*
*
=
< E α E β >= ... =
ΔK αρδβσ − ΔK βσ δαρ I ρσ
dx
dx
2cn 0
(
€
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
)
22
The wave equation as an ODE
•  The wave equation the intensity tensor is not very convinient
αβ αβ
•  Instead, rewrite it in terms of the Stokes vector: SA = τA I
dSA
= (ρ AB − µ AB ) SB
dx
€
⎧
iω
H ,αρ βα ρβ
βρ
τA τB − ΔK H ,σβ τρσ
A τB )
⎪⎪ρ AB = 4cn ( ΔK
0
⎨
⎪µ = iω ΔK€H ,αρ τβα τρβ − ΔK H ,σβ τρσ τβρ
A B
A B )
⎪⎩ AB 4cn 0 (
–  we may call this the differential formulation of Muller calculus
–  symmetric matrix ρAB describes non-dissipative changes in polarization
€
–  and the antisymmetric
matrix µAB describes dissipation (absorption)
•  The ODE for SA has the analytic solution (cmp to the ODE y’=ky)
[
]
SA (x) = δ AB + (ρ AB − µ AB ) x +1/2(ρ AC − µ AC )(ρCB − µCB ) x 2 + ... SB (0) =
[
]
= exp (ρ AB − µ AB ) x SB (0) = M AB SB (0)
–  where MAB is called the Muller matrix
–  MAB represents entire optical components
€
•  we have a component based Muller calculus
13-02-15
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
23
Examples of Muller matrixes
•  For illustration only – don’t memorise!
Linear polarizer
(45o transmission)
Linear polarizer
(Horizontal Transmission)
L, H
M AB
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 ⎤
⎥
0 ⎥
0 ⎥
⎥
0 ⎦
Quarter wave plate
(fast axis horizontal)
€
Q, H
M AB
13-02-15
€
⎡1
⎢
1 ⎢1
=
2 ⎢0
⎢
⎣0
⎡1
⎢
0
⎢
=
⎢0
⎢
⎣0
0 ⎤ €
⎥
0 ⎥
0 0 −1⎥
⎥
0 1 0 ⎦
0 0
1 0
L,45
M AB
⎡ 1
⎢
1 ⎢ 0
=
2 ⎢ −1
⎢
⎣ 0
0 −1 0 ⎤
⎥
0 0 0 ⎥
0 1 0 ⎥
⎥
0 0 0 ⎦
Attenuating filter
(30% Transmission)
⎡1
⎢
0
Att
⎢
M AB (0.3) = 0.3
⎢0
⎢
⎣0
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0 ⎤
⎥
0 ⎥
0 ⎥
⎥
1 ⎦
24
Examples of Muller matrixes
•  In optics it is common to connect a series of optical elements
•  consider a system with:
–  a linear polarizer and
–  a quarter wave plate
Q, H
L,45 in
SAout = M AB
M BC
SC
•  Insert unpolarised light, SAin=[1,0,0,0]
–  Step 1: Linear polariser transmit linear polarised light
€
T
L,45
S step1 = M BC
[1 0 0 0] = [1 0 −1 0]
T
–  Step 2: Quarter wave plate transmit circularly polarised light
€
13-02-15
S
out
=M
Q, H
[1
T
0 −1 0] = [1 0 0 −1]
T
Electromagnetic Processes In Dispersive Media, Lecture 6
25