Jones Matrix Lecture

Polarization
Jones vector & matrices
Phys 375
Matrix treatment of polarization
Consider a light ray with an instantaneous Evector as shown
E z, t iE x z , t jE y z , t
y
Ey
Ex
E x Eox e
i kz t x
E y Eoy e
i kz t y
Matrix treatment of polarization
Combining the components
i kz t y
i kz t x
E i Eox e
jEoy e
i y
i x
i kz t
E i Eox e jEoy e e
~ i kz t
E Eo e
The terms in brackets represents the complex

amplitude of the plane wave
3
Jones Vectors
The state of polarization of light is determined by
the relative amplitudes (Eox, Eoy) and,
the relative phases ( = y - x )
of these components
The complex amplitude is written as a twoelement matrix, the Jones vector
~
Eo
~
i x
Eox
Eox e
Eox
i x
e
~
i
i y
Eoy
Eoy e
Eoy e
4
Jones vector: Horizontally polarized light
The electric field oscillations are

only along the x-axis
The Jones vector is then written,
The arrows indicate

the sense of
movement as the
beam approaches you
y
Eox e i x
Eox
A
1
~
Eo ~
0
0
E
0
oy

where we have set the phase x =

0, for convenience
The normalized form

is
1
0

Jones vector: Vertically polarized light
The electric field oscillations

are only along the y-axis
The Jones vector is then
written,
~
Eox
0
0
~
Eo ~
A
i y
Eoy
A
1
Eoy e
Where we have set the
phase y = 0, for
convenience
The normalized form

is
0
1

Jones vector: Linearly polarized light at

an arbitrary angle
If the phases are such that = m for

m = 0, 1, 2, 3,
Then we must have,
Ex
m Eox
1
Ey
Eoy
and the Jones vector is simply a line

inclined at an angle = tan-1(Eoy/Eox)
since we can write
E
~
m cos
ox
Eo ~ A 1
sin
E
oy
Circular polarization
y
Suppose Eox = Eoy = A

and Ex leads Ey by
x
90o=/2
At the instant Ex reaches
its maximum
t=0, Ey = 0, Ex = +A
displacement (+A), Ey is
zero
t=T/8, Ey = +Asin 45o, Ex = Acos45o
A fourth of a period later,
Ex is zero and Ey=+A
t=T/4, E = +A, E = 0
y
Circular polarization
The Jones vector for this case where Ex leads Ey is

i
1
~ Eox e x A
Eo
i A
i y
2
Eoy e Ae
i
The normalized form is,
This vector represents circularly polarized light, where

E rotates counterclockwise, viewed head-on
This mode is called left-circularly polarized light
What is the corresponding vector for right-circularly
polarized light?
1
2
1
i

Replace /2 with -/2 to get
1
2
1
i

Elliptically polarized light
If Eox Eoy , e.g. if Eox=A and Eoy = B
The Jones vector can be written

A
iB
counterclockwise
A
iB
clockwise
Here A>B
10
Jones vector and polarization
In general, the Jones vector for the arbitrary

case is an ellipse ( m; (m+1/2))
y
Eoy
Eox
A
~
Eo
i
B cos i sin
E
e
oy
b
a
tan 2
2 Eox Eoy cos

E ox2 E oy2
x
Eox
11
Optical elements: Linear polarizer
Selectively removes all or most of the Evibrations except in a given direction

TA
Linear polarizer
12
Jones matrix for a linear polarizer

Consider a linear polarizer with transmission axis along the
vertical (y). Let a 2X2 matrix represent the polarizer
operating on vertically polarized light.
The transmitted light must also be vertically polarized. Thus,
a b
c d
0 0
1 1

Operating on horizontally polarized light,
a b
c d
Thus,
0 0
M
0
1
1 0
0 0

Linear polarizer with TA
vertical.
13
Jones matrix for a linear polarizer
For a linear polarizer with a transmission

axis at
cos
sin cos
sin cos
sin
14
Optical elements: Phase retarder
Introduces a phase difference () between

orthogonal components
The fast axis(FA) and slow axis (SA) are shown
FA
x
SA
Retardation plate
15
Jones matrix of a phase retarder
We wish to find a matrix which will transform the elements

as follows:
E e i x int o E e i x x
ox
Eoy e
ox
i y
Eoy e
It is easy to show by inspection that,
e i x
int o
i y y
0
i y
0
e
Here x and y represent the advance in phase of the

components
16
Jones matrix of a Quarter Wave Plate
Consider a quarter wave plate for which || =

/2
For y - x = /2 (Slow axis vertical)
Let x = -/4 and y = /4
The matrix representing a Quarter wave plate,

with its slow axis vertical is,
e i 4
M
0
1
0
0
i
17
Jones matrices: Half-wave Plate
For || =
e i 2
e i 2
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
HWP, SA vertical
HWP, SA horizontal
18
Optical elements:
Quarter/Half wave plate
When the net phase difference

= /2 : Quarter-wave plate
= : Half-wave plate
/2
19
Optical elements: Rotator
Rotates the direction of linearly polarized

light by a particular angle
y
x
SA
Rotator
20
Jones matrix for a rotator
An E-vector oscillating linearly at is rotated by

an angle
Thus, the light must be converted to one that
oscillates linearly at ( + )
a
c
b cos
cos
d sin
sin
cos
One then finds M
sin
sin
cos
21

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Polarization

Jones vector & matrices

Matrix treatment of polarization

Consider a light ray with an instantaneous Evector as shown

Matrix treatment of polarization

Combining the components

The terms in brackets represents the complex

The state of polarization of light is determined by

the relative amplitudes (Eox, Eoy) and,

the relative phases ( = y - x )

The complex amplitude is written as a twoelement matrix, the Jones vector

Jones vector: Horizontally polarized light

The electric field oscillations are

The arrows indicate

where we have set the phase x =

The normalized form

Jones vector: Vertically polarized light

The electric field oscillations

The normalized form

Jones vector: Linearly polarized light at

If the phases are such that = m for

and the Jones vector is simply a line

Suppose Eox = Eoy = A

The Jones vector for this case where Ex leads Ey is

The normalized form is,

This vector represents circularly polarized light, where

Replace /2 with -/2 to get

Elliptically polarized light

If Eox Eoy , e.g. if Eox=A and Eoy = B

The Jones vector can be written

Jones vector and polarization

In general, the Jones vector for the arbitrary

2 Eox Eoy cos

Optical elements: Linear polarizer

Selectively removes all or most of the Evibrations except in a given direction

Jones matrix for a linear polarizer

Operating on horizontally polarized light,

Jones matrix for a linear polarizer

For a linear polarizer with a transmission

Optical elements: Phase retarder

Introduces a phase difference () between

Jones matrix of a phase retarder

We wish to find a matrix which will transform the elements

It is easy to show by inspection that,

Here x and y represent the advance in phase of the

Jones matrix of a Quarter Wave Plate

Consider a quarter wave plate for which || =

Let x = -/4 and y = /4

The matrix representing a Quarter wave plate,

Jones matrices: Half-wave Plate

When the net phase difference

Optical elements: Rotator

Rotates the direction of linearly polarized

Jones matrix for a rotator

An E-vector oscillating linearly at is rotated by

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