Operator for Describing Polarization States of a Photon
Quantum Physics
2009-10-31 v2
Abstract
Based on the quantized electromagnetic field described by the Riemann-Silberstein complex vector , we construct the eigenvector set of , which makes up an orthonormal and complete representation. In terms of we then introduce a new operator which can describe the relative ratio of the left-handed and right-handed polarization states of a polarized photon .In eigenvector basis the operator manifestly exhibits a behaviour which is similar to a phase difference between two orientations of polarization of a light beam in classical optics.
Cite
@article{arxiv.quant-ph/9901015,
title = {Operator for Describing Polarization States of a Photon},
author = {Hong-Yi Fan and Q. Y. Liu},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/9901015},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
This version (5 pages) will be published in the European Physical Journal D