Interpretation of three-dimensional polarization states through the smart decomposition of the polarization matrix

A complete description of a three-dimensional (3D) polarization state is provided by the two most significant eigenstates of the polarization matrix, together with the two indices of polarimetric purity. By means of the so-called smart decomposition, such information can be arranged to represent the...

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Main Authors: Gil José J., Norrman Andreas, Friberg Ari T., Setälä Tero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of the European Optical Society-Rapid Publications
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Online Access:https://jeos.edpsciences.org/articles/jeos/full_html/2025/01/jeos20250030/jeos20250030.html
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author Gil José J.
Norrman Andreas
Friberg Ari T.
Setälä Tero
author_facet Gil José J.
Norrman Andreas
Friberg Ari T.
Setälä Tero
author_sort Gil José J.
collection DOAJ
description A complete description of a three-dimensional (3D) polarization state is provided by the two most significant eigenstates of the polarization matrix, together with the two indices of polarimetric purity. By means of the so-called smart decomposition, such information can be arranged to represent the state as a combination of two components, one partially polarized (active component) and one unpolarized. Contrary to what happens for two-dimensional (2D) polarization states (with the electric field fluctuating within a fixed plane), whose active component is constituted by a single totally polarized state, in the general case of 3D polarization states the active component is given by a weighted incoherent composition of the two above-mentioned eigenstates. We show that a detailed description of the intensity and spin anisotropies is encompassed by the active component of the state, which admits a simple interpretation and geometric representation. In addition, it is found that the degree of nonregularity can be viewed as a distance of the state to a regular state.
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spelling doaj-art-9bc292b5dd0c4656afe39b8b7b16c3a92025-08-20T03:31:24ZengEDP SciencesJournal of the European Optical Society-Rapid Publications1990-25732025-01-012112910.1051/jeos/2025024jeos20250030Interpretation of three-dimensional polarization states through the smart decomposition of the polarization matrixGil José J.0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1740-2244Norrman Andreas1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1428-5225Friberg Ari T.2Setälä Tero3Group of Photonic Technologies, University of ZaragozaCenter for Photonics Sciences, University of Eastern FinlandCenter for Photonics Sciences, University of Eastern FinlandCenter for Photonics Sciences, University of Eastern FinlandA complete description of a three-dimensional (3D) polarization state is provided by the two most significant eigenstates of the polarization matrix, together with the two indices of polarimetric purity. By means of the so-called smart decomposition, such information can be arranged to represent the state as a combination of two components, one partially polarized (active component) and one unpolarized. Contrary to what happens for two-dimensional (2D) polarization states (with the electric field fluctuating within a fixed plane), whose active component is constituted by a single totally polarized state, in the general case of 3D polarization states the active component is given by a weighted incoherent composition of the two above-mentioned eigenstates. We show that a detailed description of the intensity and spin anisotropies is encompassed by the active component of the state, which admits a simple interpretation and geometric representation. In addition, it is found that the degree of nonregularity can be viewed as a distance of the state to a regular state.https://jeos.edpsciences.org/articles/jeos/full_html/2025/01/jeos20250030/jeos20250030.htmlpolarizationnonparaxial lightsmart decompositionnonregular polarization states
spellingShingle Gil José J.
Norrman Andreas
Friberg Ari T.
Setälä Tero
Interpretation of three-dimensional polarization states through the smart decomposition of the polarization matrix
Journal of the European Optical Society-Rapid Publications
polarization
nonparaxial light
smart decomposition
nonregular polarization states
title Interpretation of three-dimensional polarization states through the smart decomposition of the polarization matrix
title_full Interpretation of three-dimensional polarization states through the smart decomposition of the polarization matrix
title_fullStr Interpretation of three-dimensional polarization states through the smart decomposition of the polarization matrix
title_full_unstemmed Interpretation of three-dimensional polarization states through the smart decomposition of the polarization matrix
title_short Interpretation of three-dimensional polarization states through the smart decomposition of the polarization matrix
title_sort interpretation of three dimensional polarization states through the smart decomposition of the polarization matrix
topic polarization
nonparaxial light
smart decomposition
nonregular polarization states
url https://jeos.edpsciences.org/articles/jeos/full_html/2025/01/jeos20250030/jeos20250030.html
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AT fribergarit interpretationofthreedimensionalpolarizationstatesthroughthesmartdecompositionofthepolarizationmatrix
AT setalatero interpretationofthreedimensionalpolarizationstatesthroughthesmartdecompositionofthepolarizationmatrix