Interpretation and generalization of polarized light interferences by means of the Poincar? sphere

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In this Subject: Physics (General)
By this author: Dettwiller L.

Author: Dettwiller L.

Source: European Journal of Physics, Volume 22, Number 6, 2001 , pp. 575-586(12)

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Abstract:

In order to approach some complicated problems of polarized light interferences, we investigate the Poincar? sphere and the successive generalizations of Malus's law. Then we can study in a non-traditional way the polarized light interference experiments (of Fresnel and Arago, or with crystalline plates). The remarkable efficiency of that method permits us to treat, with very short calculi, the general case of nonlinear and imperfect polarizer and analyser, separated by a pile of birefringent and/or optically active plates whose D-directions of vibration are not parallel. Moreover, the treatment of this problem is only a first stage in the use of a more general theory of polarization coherency.

Language: English

Document Type: Miscellaneous

Publication date: 2001-01-01