Chapter 14

Matrix Treatment of Polarization

Lecture Notes for Modern Optics based on
Pedrotti & Pedrotti & Pedrotti
Instructor: Nayer Eradat
Spring 2009

5/11/2009 Matrix Treatment of Polarization 1

Polarization
Polarization of an electromagnetic wave is direction of the electric field vector E.
Mathematical presentation of polarized light: Jones Vectors
Mathematical presentation of polarizers (optical components) : Jones Matrices
Linear polarizer
Phase retarder
Rotators

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Mathematical presentation of polarized light

Electric field of an electromagnetic

g wave ppropagating
p g g along
g z-direction:

JG ⎧E
⎪
i x = E ei( kz −ωt +φx ) ⎫
⎪ ⎪
⎧ Ex = Re ( Ei )
x
E = Ex x + E y y with ⎨
0x
i ( kz −ωt +φ y ) ⎬
and complex field components ⎨
i
⎪⎩ E y = E0 y e ⎪⎭ ⎪⎩ E y = Re ( Ei )
y

i = E ei( kz −ωt +φx ) x + E ei( kz −ωt +φ y ) y = ⎡ E eiφx x + E eiφ y y ⎤ ei( kz −ωt ) = E

E i 0 ei( kz −ωt )
0x 0y ⎣ 0 x 0y ⎦
Plane wave
i0
Complex amplitude vector E
also contains phase

State of polarization of a wave is determined by

relative amplitudes and phases of of the components of
i 0 that constitute a vector dubbed Jones vector:
E
⎡E i x ⎤ ⎡ E0 x eiφx ⎤
i0 = ⎢ ⎥ = ⎢
E ⎥
iφ y
i
⎢⎣ E y ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ E0 y e ⎥⎦

Jones vector are normalized if ( E0 x ) + ( E0 y ) = 1.

2 2

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Special cases of Jones vector
Particular forms of Jones vector:
φx = φ y = 0
linearly polarized light along a line making an
angle α with the x axis:
⎡ E0 x eiφx ⎤ ⎡ A cos α ⎤ ⎡cos α ⎤
i0 = ⎢ ⎥ = =
E ⎢ ⎥ A ⎢sin α ⎥
⎢⎣ E0 y e y ⎥⎦ ⎣ A sin α ⎦
iφ
⎣ ⎦
⎡cos (π / 2 ) ⎤ ⎡0 ⎤
i
Vertical polarization: E 0 = ⎢ ⎥=⎢ ⎥
⎣⎢sin (π / 2 ) ⎦⎥ ⎣1 ⎦
⎡cos ( 0 ) ⎤ ⎡1 ⎤
i
Horizontal polarization: E 0 = ⎢ ⎥=⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ ( ) ⎥⎦ ⎣0 ⎦
sin 0

0 i
⎡cos 600 ⎤
⎢ ⎥
( )1 ⎡1 ⎤
Polarized at α = 60 : E0 = = ⎢ ⎥
⎣ ⎦( )
⎢sin 600 ⎥ 2 ⎣ 3 ⎦

Conclusion1: The light presented by a Jones vactor that

both of its elements,
elements a and b, are real (not both zero)
is a linearly polarized light along the angle α = tan -1 ( b / a )
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 Lissajous Figures
JG
For general case of φx ≠ 0 and φy ≠ 0 the head of the E vector traces an ellipse rather than
a straight line. The relative phase difference of the E ox and E oy , Δφ = φ y − φx determines the
shape of the Lissajous figure and the state of polarization of the wave.

5/11/2009 Matrix Treatment of Polarization 5

LCP and RCP
Example: consider electric field of an EM wave that has E0 x = Eoy = A
and Ex leads E y by ε = π / 2. Determine the state of polarization and
deduce the normalized Jones vectors for this light.
We write the complex amplitudes as
i x = E e − iωt
⎧⎪ E ⎧ Ex = A cos ωt
⎪⎧ Ex = A cos ωt ⎪ ⎪⎧ Ex = A cos ωt
→⎨ →⎨ π ⎞→⎨
0x
⎨i ⎛
⎪⎩ y
E = E e − i ( ω t −ε )
⎪⎩ y
E = A cos ( ω t − ε ) E
⎪ y = A cos ⎜ ω t − ⎟ ⎪⎩ E y = A sin ωt
0y
⎩ ⎝ 2 ⎠
( )
E 2 = Ex2 + E y2 = A2 cos 2 ωt + sin 2 ωt = A2 the E vector traces out a circle of radius A.

⎪⎧ E0 x = Eoy = A ⎡ E0 x eiφx ⎤ ⎡ A ⎤ ⎡1⎤

Finding the Jones vector: ⎨ i0 = ⎢ ⎥ = =
then E ⎢ iπ / 2 ⎥ A ⎢i ⎥
⎪⎩φx = 0, φ y = π / 2
iφ
⎢⎣ Eoy e y ⎦⎥ ⎣ Ae ⎦ ⎣⎦

N
Normalization:
li i i0 E
E ( ( ))
i *0 =11 → A2 12 + ii* = 2 A2 = 1 → A = 1/ 2

i 0 = 1 ⎡1⎤ We call this a left-circularly polarized

The normalized Jones vector is: E ⎢⎥
2 ⎣i ⎦
light or LCP since when we view this light head-on we see the E0 vector tip is rotating
counterclockwise on a circle of radius 1/ 2. Figure shows the E0 at diffrent times.

If E y leads Ex by π /2 the E0 would rotate clockwise. i 0 = 1 ⎡1 ⎤

clockwise E ⎢ ⎥
2 ⎣ −i ⎦
We have right-circularly polarized light or RCP in this case.
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Elliptically polarized light
Example: consider electric field of an EM wave that has E0 x = A and Eoy = B where A and B
are positive numbers and Ex leads/lags E y by ε = π / 2. Determine the state of polarization
and deduce the normalized Jones vectors for this light.

⎧⎪ Ei x = E e − iωt ⎧ Ex = A cos ωt
⎧
⎪ xE = A cos ω t ⎪
→ →
0x
⎨i ⎨ ⎨ ⎛ π⎞
⎩⎪ E y = E0 y e
− i ( ω t −ε )
⎪⎩ y
E = B cos ( ω t − ε ) E
⎪ y = B cos ⎜ ω t − ⎟
⎩ ⎝ 2⎠
⎪⎧ Ex = A cos ωt
→⎨
⎪⎩ E y = B sin ωt
i0 E
Normalization: E ( (
i *0 =1 → A2 + iB ( iB )*
)) = A + B
2 2
=1

i0 = 1 ⎡A ⎤ 1 ⎡A ⎤
Jones vector counterclockwise E ⎢ iπ / 2 ⎥ = ⎢ ⎥
A + B ⎣ Be ⎦
2 2
A2 + B 2 ⎣iB ⎦
i0 = 1 ⎡A ⎤ 1 ⎡A ⎤
Jones vector clockwise E ⎢ −iπ / 2 ⎥ = ⎢ ⎥
A2 + B 2 ⎣ Be ⎦ A2 + B 2 ⎣ −iB ⎦
Conclusion 2: the Jones vector with elements un-equal in magnitude,
one of which is pure imaginary, represents an elliptically polarized light.
Figure shows the E0 for two cases of E0 y > E0 x (major axis along y) and
E0 y < E0 x (major axis along x).
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Elliptically polarized light oriented at an angle relative to x‐axis
Example: consider electric field of an EM wave that has E0 x = A and Eoy = b where A and B
are positive numbers and Ex and E y have phase difference of Δφ ≠ ± ( m + 1/ 2 ) π and
Δφ ≠ ± mπ where m = 0, ±1, ±2,...
Determine the state of polarization and deduce the normalized Jones vectors for this light.
ass me Δφ = ε and φx = 0,
We can assume 0 φy = ε
⎡ E0 x eiφx ⎤ ⎡ A ⎤ ⎡ A ⎤ ⎡A ⎤
i0 = ⎢ ⎥ = = =
E ⎢ iε ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ B + iC ⎥ Counterclockwise rotation, general case
iφ y
⎣⎢ E0 y e ⎦⎥ ⎣ be ⎦ ⎣ b cos ε + ib sin ε ⎦ ⎣ ⎦

Normalization: E ( ( ))
i *0 =1 → A2 + ( B + iC )( B + iC )* = A2 + B 2 + C 2 = 1
i0 E

Jones vector of an elliptically polarized light with major axis inclined at an angle α is:

i0 = 1 ⎡A ⎤ 2 E0 x Eoy cos ε
E ⎢ ⎥ where tan 2α =
A2 + B 2 + C 2 ⎣ B + iC ⎦ E02x − E02y
⎛C⎞
and E0 x = A, E0 y = B 2 + C 2 , ε = tan -1 ⎜ ⎟
⎝B⎠
⎧C > 0 counteclockwise
If A > 0 and ⎨
⎩C < 0 clockwise
Note: polarization state represented by the Jones vector
does not change if it is multiplied by a constant. So we can always make A > 0.
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Usefulness and some properties of the Jones vectors
Two p
properties
p of the p
polarization vector or Jones vector :
1) polarization state of a wave does not change if its Jones vector is multiplied by a constant.
It only affects the amplitude.
2)) ppolarization state of a wave does not change
g if its Jones vector is multiplied
p byy a constant pphase factor eiφ .
It promotes phase of each element by φ but not the phase difference Δφ .

Example 1 : illustrating usefulness of the Jones vectors.

a) Polarization state of a superposition of two waves can be found by adding the Jones vectors:
⎡1⎤ ⎡1 ⎤ ⎡ 2 ⎤
⎢i ⎥ + ⎢ −i ⎥ = ⎢0 ⎥
⎣⎦ ⎣ ⎦ ⎣ ⎦
Conclusion: We can generate a linearly polarized light with mixing equal portions of LCP and RCP light.

Example 2: superposition of horizontally and vertically linearly polarized light:

⎡0 ⎤ ⎡1 ⎤ ⎡1⎤
⎢1 ⎥ + ⎢0 ⎥ = ⎢1⎥
⎣ ⎦ ⎣ ⎦ ⎣⎦
Conclusion : by mixing equal protions of vertically and horizontally linearly polarized light we can get
linearly polarized light at an angle 450 .

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Summary of the polarization
states and their Jones vectors

5/11/2009 Matrix Treatment of Polarization 10

Mathematical presentation of polarizers
⎡a b ⎤
We can represent an optical instrument or device by its transfer matrix or abcd matrix: M = ⎢ ⎥
⎣c d ⎦
There are optical devices that affect (change) state of polarization of the light. Our goal is to represent
each of these devices with a transfer matrix such that multiplying it with the Jones vector of the original
light produces the resulting light
light.
iφx iφx
⎡ a b ⎤ ⎡ E0 x e ⎤ ⎡ Ex e ⎤ i0 = E
i
⎢c d ⎥ ⎢ iφ y
⎥=⎢ iφ y
⎥ or ME
⎣ ⎦ ⎢⎣ Eoy e ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ E y e ⎥⎦

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Linnear polarizers
Linear polarizer: it selectively removes virations in a given direction and transmits in perpendicular direction.
Partial polarization: sometimes the process of removing other polarizations is partial and not 100% efficient
efficient.
See the figure how the output light is polarized along the transmission axis (TA).
⎡ a b ⎤ ⎡0 ⎤ ⎡0 ⎤ ⎧⎪ a ( 0 ) + b (1) = 0
Along the TA: ⎢ =
⎥⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ → ⎨
⎣ c d ⎦ ⎣1 ⎦ ⎣1 ⎦ ⎪⎩c ( 0 ) + d (1) = 1
⎡ a b ⎤ ⎡1 ⎤ ⎡0 ⎤ ⎧⎪a (1) + b ( 0 ) = 0
Perpendicular to TA: ⎢ ⎥ ⎢0 ⎥ = ⎢0 ⎥ → ⎨
⎣ c d ⎦ ⎣ ⎦ ⎣ ⎦ ⎪⎩c (1) + d ( 0 ) = 0
The result for linear p
polarizer alongg the y axis (vertically)
( y) is:
⎡0 0 ⎤ ⎡1 0 ⎤
Linear polarizer, TA vertical → M = ⎢ ⎥ . Linear polarizer, TA horizontal → M = ⎢ ⎥
⎣0 1 ⎦ ⎣0 0 ⎦
Exercise: Derive the polarization matices for the linear polarizer at 450 :
⎡a b ⎤ ⎡1⎤ ⎡1⎤ ⎡a b ⎤ ⎡1 ⎤ ⎡0 ⎤
⎢ ⎥ ⎢1⎥ = ⎢ ⎥ and ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ −1⎥ =⎢ ⎥
⎣c d ⎦ ⎣N⎦ ⎣1⎦ ⎣c d ⎦ ⎣ ⎦
N ⎣0 ⎦
Polarization same Polarization
as the polarizer's TA perpendicular to
the polarizer
polarizer's TA

1 ⎡1 1⎤
Linear polarizer, TA at 450 : M =
2 ⎢⎣1 1⎥⎦
The most general case of the linear polarizer:
⎡ cos 2 θ sin θ cos θ ⎤
Linear polarizer, TA at θ : M = ⎢ ⎥
⎣sin θ cos θ sin 2 θ ⎦
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 Phase retarder
The pase retarder introduces a phase difference between the orthogonal polarization components.
If the speed of light in each orthogonal direction is different, there would be a cumulative phase
difference Δφ between the components as light emerges from the media.
Fast axis (FA): the axis along which the speed of light is faster or index of refraction is lower.
Slow axis (SA): the axis along which the speed of light is slower or index of refraction is higher.
Fi di the
Finding th matrix t i for
f retarder
t d : we wantt a matrix t i that
th t will
ill transform
t f
i (φ + ε )
E0 x eiφx to E0 x e ( x x ) and E0 y e y to E0 y e y y
i φ +ε iφ

i (φ x + ε x )
⎡ a b ⎤ ⎡ E0 x e ⎤ ⎡ E0 x e ⎤
iφx
⎡eiε x 0 ⎤
⎢c d ⎥ ⎢ iφ y
⎥=⎢ i (φ y + ε y )
⎥→M=⎢
iε ⎥
Phase retarder
⎣ ⎦ ⎢⎣ E0 y e ⎥⎦ ⎣⎢ E0 y e ⎥
⎦ ⎢⎣ 0 e y ⎥⎦
M

Quarter − wave plate (QWP), a retarder with the net phase difference π /2
⎧ π π π ⎡eiπ / 4 0 ⎤
ε
⎪ x − ε = SA h
horizontal,
i l let
l ε = , andd ε = − → M = ⎢ ⎥
e − iπ / 4 ⎦
y x y
⎪ 2 4 4 ⎣ 0
⎨
⎪ π π π ⎡e − iπ / 4 0 ⎤
ε
⎪ y − ε = SA vertical, let ε = − , and ε = + → M = ⎢ ⎥
eiπ / 4 ⎦
x x y
⎩ 2 4 4 ⎣ 0
⎡1 0 ⎤ iπ / 4 ⎡ 1 0⎤
M = e −iπ / 4 ⎢ ⎥ QWP, SA vertical, M = e ⎢0 −i ⎥ QWP, SA horizontal
⎣ 0 i ⎦ ⎣ ⎦
Half − wave plate (HWP): a retarder with the net phase difference ε x − ε y = π

⎡1 0 ⎤ iπ / 2 ⎡ 1 0⎤
M = e −iπ / 2 ⎢ ⎥ QWP, SA vertical, M = e ⎢0 −1⎥ QWP, SA horizontal
⎣ 0 −1⎦ ⎣ ⎦
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Phase rotator
The phase rotator rotates the drection of polarization of the linearly polarized light by some angle β .
⎡ a b ⎤ ⎡cos θ ⎤ ⎡cos (θ + β ) ⎤
⎢ c d ⎥ ⎢sin θ ⎥ = ⎢ ⎥→
⎣ ⎦⎣ ⎦ ⎢⎣ sin (θ + β ) ⎥⎦
M

⎡cos β i β⎤
− sin
M=⎢
cos β ⎥⎦
Phase rotator
⎣ sin β

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5/11/2009 Matrix Treatment of Polarization 15
Example: Production of circularly polarized light by combining
a linear polarizer with a QWP
⎡1 0 ⎤ 1 ⎡1⎤ ⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎡1 ⎤
eiπ / 4 ⎢ ⎥ ⎢1⎥ = e iπ / 4
⎜ ⎟ ⎢ −i ⎥
− ⎝
⎣ ⎦  ⎣⎦  ⎠⎣ ⎦
0 i 2 2
QWP Linearly polarized The incident light is divided
slow
l axisi light at 450 equally
ll between
b t the
th slow
l andd
horizontal fast axis and becomes
right-circularly polarized

− iπ / 4 ⎡1 0 ⎤ 1 ⎡1⎤ − iπ / 4 ⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎡1⎤
e ⎢0 i ⎥ ⎢1⎥ =e ⎜ ⎟⎢ ⎥
⎣ ⎦ 2 ⎣⎦ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎣i ⎦
QWP Linearly polarized The incident light is divided
slow axis light at 450 equally between the slow
vertical and fast axis and becomes
left-circularly
left circularly polarized

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Example: Left‐circularly polarized light is passing through an eighth wave plate
Eighth wave plate is a phase retarder that introduces a relative phase difference
of 2π /8 or π /4 between the SA and FA. Assume ε x = 0
⎡eiε x 0 ⎤ ε x =0 ⎡1 0 ⎤
M=⎢ iε ⎥ ⎯⎯⎯→
ε =π / 4 ⎢0 eiπ / 4 ⎥
⎢⎣ 0 e y ⎥⎦ y ⎣ ⎦

Phase retarderl Eighth wave plate

⎡1 0 ⎤ ⎡1⎤ ⎡1 ⎤ ⎡1 ⎤
⎢0 eiπ / 4 ⎥ ⎢i ⎥ = ⎢ iπ / 4 ⎥ = ⎢ i 3π / 4 ⎥
⎣
 ⎦ ⎣N⎦ ⎣ie ⎦ ⎣e
 ⎦
Eighth wave plate Left-circularly Elliptically
polarized light polarized light

1 1
e3π / 4 = − +i
2 2
⎡E i 0x ⎤ ⎡ A ⎤ 1 1
⎢ ⎥=⎢ ⎥ wher e E = A = 1, B = − and C = , E0 y = B 2 + C 2 = 1 and
i
⎣⎢ E 0 y ⎦⎥ ⎣ B + iC ⎦
0x
2 2
2 E0 x Eoy cos ε
tan 2α = → α = −45 0

E02x − E02y
A > 0 and C>0 so they have the same sign so the elliptically polarized light has
counterclockwise rotation.
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