Polarization

Jones vector & matrices

Phys 375

1
Matrix treatment of polarization
Consider a light ray with an instantaneous E-
vector as shown
y
E z, t iEx z, t jE y z, t

Ey
i kz t x
x
E x Eoxe
Ex

i kz t y
E y Eoy e
2
Matrix treatment of polarization
Combining the components
i kz t x i kz t y

E i Eox e
jEoy e


E i Eox e jEoy e e i kz t
i x i y

~ i kz t
E Eo e
The terms in brackets represents the complex
amplitude of the plane wave

3
Jones Vectors
The state of polarization of light is determined by
the relative amplitudes (Eox, Eoy) and,
the relative phases ( = y - x )
of these components
The complex amplitude is written as a two-
element matrix, the Jones vector
~ i x
~ Eox Eox e i x
Eox
Eo ~ i y
e i
Eoy Eoy e Eoy e

4
Jones vector: Horizontally polarized light
The arrows indicate
the sense of movement
as the beam
The electric field oscillations approaches you
are only along the x-axis
y
The Jones vector is then
written,
~ E
~ Eox Eox e i x A 1 x
Eo ~ A
Eoy 0 0 0

The normalized form

is
where we have set the phase 1
x = 0, for convenience 0
5
Jones vector: Vertically polarized light

The electric field y

oscillations are only along
the y-axis
E
The Jones vector is then x
written,
~
~ E 0 0 0
Eo ~
ox
i y A
Eoy Eoy e A 1
The normalized form

0
is
Where we have set the
phase y = 0, for 1
convenience 6
Jones vector: Linearly polarized light at
an arbitrary angle
If the phases are such that = m for
m = 0, 1, 2, 3, y
Then we must have,

1
Ex m Eox x
Ey Eoy

and the Jones vector is simply a line

inclined at an angle = tan-1(Eoy/Eox)
since we can write
~
E m cos
Eo ~ A 1
~ ox

oy
E sin 7
Circular polarization
y
Suppose Eox = Eoy = A
and Ex leads Ey by x
90o=/2
At the instant Ex
reaches its maximum
t=0, Ey = 0, Ex = +A
displacement (+A), Ey
is zero
t=T/8, Ey = +Asin 45o, Ex = Acos45o
A fourth of a period
later, Ex is zero and t=T/4, Ey = +A, Ex = 0
Ey=+A
8
Circular polarization
The Jones vector for this case where Ex leads Ey is
i
~ Eoxe x A 1
Eo i y i A
Eoy e Ae i
2

The normalized form is,

1 1
i
2
This vector represents circularly polarized light, where
E rotates counterclockwise, viewed head-on
This mode is called left-circularly polarized light
What is the corresponding vector for right-circularly
polarized light?
1 1
Replace /2 with -/2 to get i
2
9
Elliptically polarized light
If Eox Eoy , e.g. if Eox=A and Eoy = B
The Jones vector can be written
A counterclockwise
iB

A
clockwise
iB

Here A>B 10
Jones vector and polarization
In general, the Jones vector for the arbitrary
case is an ellipse ( m; (m+1/2))

~ Eox A y
Eo i Bcos i sin Eoy
Eoy e

a
x
2 Eox Eoy cos Eox
tan 2
E ox2 E oy2

11
Optical elements: Linear polarizer

Selectively removes all or most of the E-

vibrations except in a given direction
y
TA

Linear polarizer

12
Jones matrix for a linear polarizer
Consider a linear polarizer with transmission axis along the
vertical (y). Let a 2X2 matrix represent the polarizer
operating on vertically polarized light.
The transmitted light must also be vertically polarized. Thus,

a b 0 0
c d 1 1

Operating on horizontally polarized light,

a b 1 0
c d 0 0

0 0 Linear polarizer with TA
Thus, M vertical.
0 1 13
Jones matrix for a linear polarizer

For a linear polarizer with a transmission

axis at

cos 2
sin cos
M
sin cos sin
2

14
Optical elements: Phase retarder
Introduces a phase difference () between
orthogonal components
The fast axis(FA) and slow axis (SA) are shown
y
FA

x
SA

Retardation plate

15
Jones matrix of a phase retarder
We wish to find a matrix which will transform the
elements as follows: Eoxei x int o Eoxei x x
i y i y y
Eoy e int o Eoy e

It is easy to show by inspection that,

ei x 0
M i y
0 e
Here x and y represent the advance in phase of the
components
16
Jones matrix of a Quarter Wave Plate

Consider a quarter wave plate for which || =

/2
For y - x = /2 (Slow axis vertical)
Let x = -/4 and y = /4
The matrix representing a Quarter wave plate,
with its slow axis vertical is,
e i 4 0 i 1 0
M 4
0 i
i e
0 e 4

17
Jones matrices: Half-wave Plate
For || =
e i 2 0 i 1 0 HWP, SA vertical
M 2
0 1
i e
0 e 2

e i 2 0 i 1 0
M 2
0 1
i e HWP, SA horizontal
0 e 2

18
Optical elements:
Quarter/Half wave plate
When the net phase difference
= /2 : Quarter-wave plate
= : Half-wave plate
/2

19
Optical elements: Rotator
Rotates the direction of linearly polarized
light by a particular angle
y

x

SA

Rotator

20
Jones matrix for a rotator
An E-vector oscillating linearly at is rotated by
an angle
Thus, the light must be converted to one that
oscillates linearly at ( + )
a b cos cos
c
d sin sin

cos sin
One then finds M
sin cos

21