Chapter14

MatrixTreatmentofPolarization
LectureNotesforModernOpticsbasedon
Pedrotti&Pedrotti&Pedrotti
Instructor: Nayer Eradat Instructor:NayerEradat
Spring2009
5/11/2009 1 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization
Polarization
PolarizationofanelectromagneticwaveisdirectionoftheelectricfieldvectorE.
Mathematical presentation of polarized light: Jones Vectors Mathematicalpresentationofpolarizedlight:JonesVectors
Mathematicalpresentationofpolarizers(opticalcomponents):JonesMatrices
Linearpolarizer
Phaseretarder
Rotators
5/11/2009 2 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization
Mathematicalpresentationofpolarizedlight
Electric field of an electromagnetic wave propagating along z-direction:
` `
`
( )
`
( )
`
( )
`
( )
0
0
g p p g g g
Re
with and complex field components
Re
x
y
i kz t
x
x
x
x
x y
i kz t
y y
y y
E E
E E e
E E
E E e E E


+
+

=
=

= +

= =

E x y
,
( )
`
( )
`
0
x
y y
i kz t
x
E e E
+

= + E x
( )
` ` `
`
( )
`
( )
0
0
0 0 0
Plane wave
Complex amplitude vector
alsocontainsphase
y y
x
i kz t i i kz t i kz t i
y x y
e E e E e e e

+


= + =

E
y x y E
_
_
also contains phase
State of polarization of a wave is determined by
relative amplitudes and phases of of the components of
`
`
`
`
0
0
0
that constitute a vector dubbed J ones vector:

x
i
x
x
i
E e
E

= =


E
E
( )
( )
0
2
2
0 0
J ones vector are normalized if 1.
y
i
y
y
x y
E e
E
E E

+ =
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 3
SpecialcasesofJonesvector
Particular forms of J ones vector:
x y
0
linearly polarized light along a line making an
angle with the x axis:

= =
`
0
0
0
cos cos

sin sin
x
y
i
x
i
y
E e
A
E A
A
E e

= = =



( )
/ 2

`
0 Vertical polarization: E
( )
( )
`
( )
cos / 2
0

1
sin / 2
cos 0
1

= =







( )
( )
`
( )
0
0
0
0
Horizontal polarization:
0
sin 0
cos 60
1
1
Polarizedat 60 :
E

= =







= = =

E
( )
0
0
Polarized at 60 :
2
3
sin 60
: The light presented by a J ones vactor that
botho

= = =




E
Conclusion1
f itselements and arereal (not bothzero) a b
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 4
both o
( )
-1
f its elements, and , are real (not both zero)
is a linearly polarized light along the angle tan /
a b
b a =
LissajousFigures
x y
For general case of 0 and 0 the head of the vector traces an ellipse rather than E
,
ox oy
a straight line. The relative phase difference of the E and E , determines the
shape of the Lis
y x
=
sajous figure and the state of polarization of the wave.
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 5
LCPandRCP
0
Example: consider electric field of an EM wave that has
and leads by / 2. Determine the state of polarization and
x oy
x y
E E A
E E
= =
=
deduce the normalized J ones vectors for this light.
We write the com
y
`
plex amplitudes as
cos
cos cos
i t
x
E A t
E A t E E e E A t

= = =

`
( )
( )
( )
0
0
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
cos cos
sin cos cos
2
cos sin the vector traces out a circle of rad
x
x x x
i t
y y y y
y
x y
E A t E E e E A t
E A t E A t E A t
E E e
E E E A t t A

= = =



= = =
=

= + = + = E ius A.
( )
y
`
` `
( ) ( )
0 0
0
/2
*
2 2 * 2
1
Finding the J ones vector: then
0, / 2
N li i 1 1 2 1 1/ 2
x
y
i
x oy x
i i
x y
oy
E E A E e
A
A
i
Ae E e
E E A A A

= =

= = =


= =

E
( ) ( )
`
2 2 * 2
0 0
0
Normalization: =1 1 2 1 1/ 2
1
1
The normalized J ones vector is:
2
E E A ii A A
i
+ = = =

=


E We call this a left-circularly polarized

light or LCP since when we view this light head-on we see the vector tip is rotating
counterclockwise on a circle of radius 1/ 2. Figure shows the at di
0
0
E
E
`
0
ffrent times.
1
1
If leads by /2 the wouldrotateclockwise E E

=

E E
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 6
0 If leads by /2 the would rotate clockwise.
2
We have right-circularly polarized light or RCP in this case.
y x
E E
i
=

0
E E
Ellipticallypolarizedlight
0
Example: consider electric field of an EM wave that has and where A and B
are positive numbers and leads/lags by / 2. Determine the state of polarization
x oy
x y
E A E B
E E
= =
=
and deduce the normalized
`
`
( )
( )
0
J ones vectors for this light.
cos
cos
i t
x
x
x x
i
E A t
E A t E E e

= =

( )
( )
0
cos cos
2
cos
sin
i t
y y y
y
x
E B t E B t
E E e
E A t
E B t

= =
=

` `
( )
( )
( )
*
*
2 2 2
0 0
sin
Normalization: =1 1
y
E B t
E E A iB iB A B
=

+ = + =
`
1 1
A
A

J ones vector counte
`
0
/2
2 2 2 2
0
/2
2 2 2 2
1 1
rclockwise
1 1
J ones vector clockwise
i
i
iB
Be
A B A B
A
A
iB
Be
A B A B

= =


+ +



= =

+ +

E
E
2 2 2 2
: the J ones vector with elements un-equal in magnitude,
one of which is pur
iB
Be
A B A B

+ +

Conclusion 2
e imaginary, represents an elliptically polarized light.
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 7
0 0
0 0
Figure shows the for two cases of (major axis along y) and
(major axis along x).
y x
y x
E E
E E
>
<
0
E
Ellipticallypolarizedlightorientedatananglerelativetoxaxis
( )
0
Example: consider electric field of an EM wave that has and where A and B
arepositivenumbersand and havephasedifferenceof 1/ 2 and
x oy
E A E b
E E m
= =
+
( )
are positive numbers and and have phase difference of 1/ 2 and
where 0, 1, 2,...
Determine
x y
E E m
m m


+
=
the state of polarization and deduce the normalized J ones vectors for this light.
Wecanass me and 0
`
0
0
0
We can assume and 0,
Counterclockwi
cos sin
x
y
x y
i
x
i i
y
E e
A
A A
b ib B iC
be E e

= = =



= = = =


+ +



E se rotation, general case

` `
( )( )
( ) ( )
*
*
2 2 2 2
0 0 Normalization: =1 1
J ones vector of an elliptically polarized light with major axis inclined at an angle is:
E E A B iC B iC A B C

+ + + = + + =

`
0
2 2 2
2
1
where tan2
A
B iC
A B C

= =

+
+ +
E
0
2 2
0 0
2 2 -1
cos

and tan
x oy
x y
E E
E E
C
E A E B C

= = + =
0 0
and , , tan
0 counteclockwise
If 0 and
0 clockwise
x y
E A E B C
B
C
A
C
= = + =


>

>

<

5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 8
Note: polarization state represented by the J ones vector
does not change if it is multiplied by a constant. So we can always make 0. A >
UsefulnessandsomepropertiesoftheJonesvectors
Two properties of the polarization vector or Jones vector :
1) polarization state of a wave does not change if its J ones vector is multiplied by a constant.
It only affects the amplitude.
2) polarizatio
p p p
n state of a wave does not change if itsJ ones vector is multiplied by a constant phase factor .
i
e

) p g p y p
It promotes phase of each element by but not the phase difference .
: illustrating usefu

Example 1 lness of the J ones vectors.
a) Polarization state of a superposition of two waves can be found by adding the J ones vectors:
1 1 2

0 i i

+ =

: We can generate a linearly polarized Conclusion light with mixing equal portions of LCP and RCP light.
: superposition of horizontally and vertically linearly polarized light:
0 1 1

Example 2
0 1 1
1 0 1
: y mixing equal protions of b

+ =


Conclusion
0
vertically and horizontally linearly polarized light we can get
linearlypolarizedlight at anangle45
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 9
linearly polarized light at an angle 45 .
Summaryofthepolarization
statesandtheirJonesvectors
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 10
Mathematicalpresentationofpolarizers
We can represent an optical instrument or device by its transfer matrix or abcd matrix:
a b
c d

=


M
There are optical devices that affect (change) state of polarization of the light. Our goal is to re
c d

present
each of these devices with a transfer matrix such that multiplying it with the J ones vector of the original
light producestheresultinglight
0
light produces the resulting light.
x x
y y
i i
x x
i i
oy y
E e E e
a b
c d
E e E e




=



` `
or =

0 ME E
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 11
Linnearpolarizers
: it selectively removes virations in a given direction and transmits in perpendicular direction.
: sometimestheprocessof removingother polarizationsispartial
Linear polarizer
Partial polarization andnot 100%efficient : sometimes the process of removing other polarizations is partial Partial polarization
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
and not 100% efficient.
See the figure how the output light is polarized along the transmission axis (TA).
0 1 0
0 0
Along the TA:
1 1
0 1 1
a b
a b
c d
c d
+ =


=


+ =

( ) ( )
1
Perpendicular to TA:
a b
c d

( ) ( )
( ) ( )
1 0 0
0
0 0
1 0 0
The result for linear polarizer along the y axis (vertically) is:
a b
c d
+ =


=


+ =

p g y ( y)
0 0 1 0
Linear polarizer, TA vertical . Linear polarizer, TA horizontal
0 1 0 0
:

= =


M M
Exercise
0
Derive the polarization matices for the linear polarizer at 45 :

Polarization same Polarization

as the polarizer's TA perpendicular to
thepolarizer'
1 1 1
and
1 1 1
a b a b
c d c d

=

sTA
0
0

=


the polarizers TA
0
1 1
1
Linear polarizer, TA at 45 :
1 1 2
The most general case of the linear polarizer:

=


M
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 12
2
2
cos sin cos
Linear polarizer, TA at :
sin cos sin

=


M
Phaseretarder
The pase retarder introduces a phase difference between the orthogonal polarization components.
If the speed of light in each orthogonal direction is different, there would be a cumulative phase
difference between the components as light emerges from the media.
(FA): the axis along which the speed of light is faster or index of refraction is lower.
(SA): the axis along which

Fast axis
Slow axis the speed of light is slower or index of refraction is higher.
t t i th t ill t f Fi di th t i f t d
( ) ( )
0 0 0 0
0
: we want a matrix that will transform
to and to
y y y x x x
i i i i
x x y y
x
E e E e E e E e
E e
a b

+
+


Finding the matrix for retarder
( )
( )
0
0
Phaseretarder
x x
x
x
i
i
i
x
E e
e

+




= =


M
c d


M
_
( )
0
0
Phase retarder
0
(QWP), a retarder with the net phase difference /2
SA h i l l d
y y y y
i i i
y
y
E e e
E e

M
Quarter wave plate
/4
0
i
e

M
x y
SA horizontal, let , and
2 4 4
x y

= = =
/4
/4
x y
/4
0
0
SA vertical, let , and
2 4 4 0
i
i
y x
i
e
e
e

= = = + =

M
M
/4 /4
1 0 1 0
QWP, SA vertical, QWP, SA horizontal
0 0
(HWP): a retarde
i i
e e
i i


= =

M M
Half wave plate r with the net phase difference
x y
=
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 13
/2 /2
1 0 1 0
QWP, SA vertical, QWP, SA horizontal
0 1 0 1
i i
e e


= =



M M
Phaserotator
( )
The phase rotator rotates the drection of polarization of the linearly polarizedlight by some angle .

( )
( )
cos
cos
sin
sin
i
a b
c d

+

=


+



M
_
cos sin
Phase rotator
sin cos

=


M
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 14
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 15
Example:Productionofcircularlypolarizedlightbycombining
alinearpolarizerwithaQWP
1 0 1 1
1 1

0
/4 /4
Linearly polarized The incident light isdivided
l i ll b t th l d
1 0 1 1
1 1
0 1
2 2
i i
QWP
e e
i i



=




_ _ _
0
slow axis equally between the slow and
light at 45
horizontal fast axis and becomes
right-circularly polarized
/4 /4
1 0 1 1
1 1
i i
e e



=


0
Linearly polarized The incident light isdivided
slow axis equally between the slow
light at 45
vertical and fast axis a
0 1
2 2
QWP
i i



_ _
nd becomes
left-circularlypolarized
_
left circularly polarized
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 16
Example:Leftcircularlypolarizedlightispassingthroughaneighthwaveplate
Eighth wave plate is a phase retarder that introduces a relative phase difference
x
x
0
/4 /4
of 2 /8 or /4 between the SA and FA. Assume 0
0 1 0
0
0
x
y
y
i
i
i
e
e
e

=
=
=


=




M
Phase retarderl
0
0
E
e
e


_
wave plate
/4
/4 3 /4
1 1
1 0 1
0
ighth
i
i i
e i
ie e

= =




_

Left-circularly
wave plate
Elliptically
polarized light
polarized light
3 /4
0
1 1
Eighth
e i
ie e
e i

= +
_
_
`
`
0
0
2 2
wher
x
y
E A
B iC
E


=


+


2 2
0x 0
1 1
e E 1, and , 1 and
2 2
y
A B C E B C = = = = = + =

0 0
2 2
0 0
2 cos
tan2 45
0andC>0sotheyhavethesamesignsotheellipticallypolarizedlight has
x oy
x y
E E
E E
A

= =

>
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 17
0 and C>0 so they have the same sign so the elliptically polarized light has
counterclockwise rotation.
A >
5/11/2009 MatrixTreatmentofPolarization 18