ISSN:
1432-0630
Keywords:
Transmittance
;
Polarization
;
Optical systems
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract The intensity transmittance α of a linear nondepolarizing optical system is investigated as a function of the state of polarization of the incident light. For totally polarized incident light the state of polarization is completely described by a single complex variable χ. In the χ-plane, the loci of incident polarizations that experience equal attenuation or amplification [α(χ)=constant] upon passing through the system constitute a family of nonintersecting coaxal circles. The zero-radius point circles of the coaxal family represent two orthogonal polarizationsχ max andχ min that pass through the system with maximum and minimum transmittances, respectively. Simple elegant expressions are derived for α in terms of the propertiesχ max,χ min;α max andα min of the system. When χ is expressed in terms of the azimuth and the ellipticity of the polarization ellipse a generalized version of Malus' law is obtained which is applicable to any optical system. Special cases of optical systems are discussed. The condition that a Jones matrix represents an active system is derived. Such a system may amplify polarization states inside a circular domain in the complex χ-plane and attenuate all other states. The results for totally polarized incident light are used to derive the polarization-dependent intensity transmittance of the system for unpolarized and partially polarized incident light. A new set of three parameters is introduced to describe the state of polarization of partially polarized light. The polarization-dependent intensity transmittance is completely determined by four real quantities which can be measured photo-ellipsometrically.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00884670
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