Year: 1998
Type: article
Abstract: By starting with the Maxwell theory of electromagnetism, we study the change of polarization state of light transmitting through optically anisotropic media. The basic idea is to reduce the Maxwell equation to the Schr\"odinger-like equation for two levels (or states) representing polarization. By using the quantum mechanical technique, the density matrix, and path integral, the evolution of the Stokes parameters results in the equation of motion for a pseudospin representing a point on the Poincar\'e sphere. Two typical examples relevant to actual experiments are considered; the one gives the generalized Faraday effect, and the other realizes an optical analog of magnetic resonance.
Source: Physical Review Letters
Authors: Hiroshi Kuratsuji, Shouhei Kakigi
Institution: Ritsumeikan University
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2056121154