A three-dimensional degree of polarization based on Rayleigh scattering
Optics
2009-11-13 v1 Quantum Physics
Abstract
A measure of the degree of polarization for the three-dimensional polarization matrix (coherence matrix) of an electromagnetic field is proposed, based on Rayleigh scattering. The degree of polarization, due to dipole scattering of the three-dimensional state of polarization, is averaged over all scattering directions. This gives a well-defined purity measure, which, unlike other proposed measures of the three-dimensional degree of polarization, is not a unitary invariant of the matrix. This is demonstrated and discussed for several examples, including a partially polarized transverse beam.
Cite
@article{arxiv.physics/0702105,
title = {A three-dimensional degree of polarization based on Rayleigh scattering},
author = {M. R. Dennis},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0702105},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
17 pages, 3 figures. OSA style