Input Polarization
Polarization angle θ [°]0°
Ellipticity χ [°]0°
-45°=L circular / 0°=linear / +45°=R circular
Phase δ [°]0°
Optical Elements (max 4)
Stokes Parameters
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|Ex| output amplitude
—
|Ey| output amplitude
—
Degree of polarization
—
Ellipticity χ [°]
—
Azimuth ψ [°]
Theory
Jones vector from polarization parameters:
$$\mathbf{J} = \begin{pmatrix} E_x \\ E_y \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} \cos\chi\cos\theta - i\sin\chi\sin\theta \\ \cos\chi\sin\theta + i\sin\chi\cos\theta \end{pmatrix}$$Jones matrix (QWP, fast axis at angle α):
$$M_{QWP}(\alpha) = R(-\alpha)\begin{pmatrix}1 & 0 \\ 0 & e^{i\pi/2}\end{pmatrix}R(\alpha)$$Stokes parameters:
$$S_0 = |E_x|^2+|E_y|^2,\quad S_1 = |E_x|^2-|E_y|^2$$ $$S_2 = 2\operatorname{Re}(E_xE_y^*),\quad S_3 = -2\operatorname{Im}(E_xE_y^*)$$Degree of polarization: $\mathrm{DOP} = \sqrt{S_1^2+S_2^2+S_3^2}/S_0$
Applications: LCD liquid-crystal cell design / Fiber-optic polarization mode dispersion / LiDAR polarimetric scattering / Photoelastic stress measurement / Quantum-key-distribution qubit operations / Solar cell anti-reflection coating.