dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaStokes Parameters as a Minkowskian Four-vector
| Authors | D. Han, Y. S. Kim, Marilyn E. Noz |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/9707016 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/9707016 |
| DOI | 10.1103/PhysRevE.56.6065 |
Abstract
It is noted that the Jones-matrix formalism for polarization optics is a six-parameter two-by-two representation of the Lorentz group. It is shown that the four independent Stokes parameters form a Minkowskian four-vector, just like the energy-momentum four-vector in special relativity. The optical filters are represented by four-by-four Lorentz-transformation matrices. This four-by-four formalism can deal with partial coherence described by the Stokes parameters. A four-by-four matrix formulation is given for decoherence effects on the Stokes parameters, and a possible experiment is proposed. It is shown also that this Lorentz-group formalism leads to optical filters with a symmetry property corresponding to that of two-dimensional Euclidean transformations.
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"abstract": "It is noted that the Jones-matrix formalism for polarization optics is a\nsix-parameter two-by-two representation of the Lorentz group. It is shown that\nthe four independent Stokes parameters form a Minkowskian four-vector, just\nlike the energy-momentum four-vector in special relativity. The optical filters\nare represented by four-by-four Lorentz-transformation matrices. This\nfour-by-four formalism can deal with partial coherence described by the Stokes\nparameters. A four-by-four matrix formulation is given for decoherence effects\non the Stokes parameters, and a possible experiment is proposed. It is shown\nalso that this Lorentz-group formalism leads to optical filters with a symmetry\nproperty corresponding to that of two-dimensional Euclidean transformations.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/9707016",
"authors": [
"D. Han",
"Y. S. Kim",
"Marilyn E. Noz"
],
"categories": [
"physics.optics"
],
"doi": "10.1103/PhysRevE.56.6065",
"title": "Stokes Parameters as a Minkowskian Four-vector",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/9707016"
},
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