Mueller Matrix Polarizing Power

The transformation of the states of polarization of electromagnetic waves through their interaction with polarimetrically linear media can be represented by the associated Mueller matrices. A global measure of the ability of a linear medium to modify the states of polarization of incident waves, due...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhotonics Vol. 11; no. 5; p. 411
Main Author Gil, José J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.05.2024
Subjects
Depolarization
Eigenvalues
Electric waves
Electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic waves
Electromagnetism
Graphical representations
Incident waves
Light
Matrices (mathematics)
Mueller matrices
polarimetry
Polarization
polarizing power
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Summary:The transformation of the states of polarization of electromagnetic waves through their interaction with polarimetrically linear media can be represented by the associated Mueller matrices. A global measure of the ability of a linear medium to modify the states of polarization of incident waves, due to any combination of enpolarizing, depolarizing and retarding properties, is introduced as the distance from the Mueller matrix to the identity matrix. This new descriptor, called the polarizing power, is applicable to any Mueller matrix and can be expressed as a function of the degree of polarimetric purity and the trace of the Mueller matrix. The graphical representation of the feasible values of the polarizing power provides a general view of its main peculiarities and features. The values of the polarizing power for several typical devices are analyzed.
ISSN:2304-6732
2304-6732
DOI:10.3390/photonics11050411