Polarization

Jones vector & matrices

Phys 375

Matrix treatment of polarization

Consider a light ray with an instantaneous Evector as shown

E z, t iE x z , t jE y z , t

y
Ey
Ex

E x Eox e

i kz t x

E y Eoy e

i kz t y

Matrix treatment of polarization

Combining the components

i kz t y
i kz t x

E i Eox e
jEoy e

i y
i x
i kz t

E i Eox e jEoy e e
~ i kz t
E Eo e

The terms in brackets represents the complex

amplitude of the plane wave
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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 twoelement matrix, the Jones vector

~
Eo

~
i x

Eox
Eox e
Eox
i x
e
~
i
i y
Eoy
Eoy e
Eoy e
4

Jones vector: Horizontally polarized light

The electric field oscillations are

only along the x-axis
The Jones vector is then written,

The arrows indicate

the sense of
movement as the
beam approaches you
y

Eox e i x
Eox
A
1
~
Eo ~

0
0
E
0
oy

where we have set the phase x =

0, for convenience

The normalized form

is

1
0

Jones vector: Vertically polarized light

The electric field oscillations

are only along the y-axis
The Jones vector is then
written,
~

Eox
0
0
~
Eo ~
A
i y

Eoy
A
1
Eoy e
Where we have set the
phase y = 0, for
convenience

The normalized form

is

0
1

Jones vector: Linearly polarized light at

an arbitrary angle

If the phases are such that = m for

m = 0, 1, 2, 3,
Then we must have,

Ex
m Eox
1
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
ox
Eo ~ A 1

sin

E
oy

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 Ey=+A
t=T/4, E = +A, E = 0
y

Circular polarization

The Jones vector for this case where Ex leads Ey is

i
1
~ Eox e x A
Eo
i A
i y
2
Eoy e Ae
i

The normalized form is,

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
2

1
i

Replace /2 with -/2 to get

1
2

1
i

Elliptically polarized light

If Eox Eoy , e.g. if Eox=A and Eoy = B

The Jones vector can be written

A
iB

counterclockwise

A
iB

clockwise

Here A>B

10

Jones vector and polarization

In general, the Jones vector for the arbitrary

case is an ellipse ( m; (m+1/2))
y
Eoy

Eox
A

~
Eo

i
B cos i sin
E
e
oy

b
a

tan 2

2 Eox Eoy cos

E ox2 E oy2

x
Eox

11

Optical elements: Linear polarizer

Selectively removes all or most of the Evibrations except in a given direction

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
c d

0 0
1 1

Operating on horizontally polarized light,

a b
c d

Thus,

0 0
M

0
1

1 0
0 0

Linear polarizer with TA
vertical.
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Jones matrix for a linear polarizer

For a linear polarizer with a transmission

axis at

cos

sin cos

sin cos

sin

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Optical elements: Phase retarder

Introduces a phase difference () between

orthogonal components
The fast axis(FA) and slow axis (SA) are shown
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:
E e i x int o E e i x x
ox

Eoy e

ox

i y

Eoy e

It is easy to show by inspection that,

e i x

int o

i y y

0
i y

0
e

Here x and y represent the advance in phase of the

components
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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
M
0

1
0

0
i
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Jones matrices: Half-wave Plate

For || =
e i 2

e i 2

1
0

1
0

0
1
0
1

HWP, SA vertical

HWP, SA horizontal

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
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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
c

b cos
cos

d sin
sin

cos
One then finds M
sin

sin
cos
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