Su(3) representation for the polarisation of light

Ramachandran, G. ; Murthy, M. V. N. ; Mallesh, K. S. (1980) Su(3) representation for the polarisation of light Pramana - Journal of Physics, 15 (4). pp. 357-369. ISSN 0304-4289

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Official URL: http://www.ias.ac.in/j_archive/pramana/15/4/357-36...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02848594

Abstract

A new mathematical representation for discussing the state of polarisation of an arbitrary beam of partially polarised light is described which makes use of the generators of the group SU(3). This representation is sufficiently general to describe not only physical photons which are transverse but also virtual photons. The correspondence between our representation and the conventional Stokes parameter representation is established and this leads to an equivalent geometrical description of partially polarised light in terms of diametrically opposite points on a Poincare sphere with radius equal to the degree of polarisation. The connection with the spherical tensor representation is also discussed and this leads to a simple geometrical interpretation of the bounds on the parameters characterizing an arbitrary beam of partially polarised light.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Indian Academy of Sciences.
Keywords:Photons; Polarisation; Density Matrix; Stokes Parameters; Su(3) Representation; Bounds
ID Code:25574
Deposited On:06 Dec 2010 13:12
Last Modified:17 May 2016 09:02

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