Decomposition algorithm of an experimental Mueller matrix

This study deals with the interpretation of experimental Mueller matrices. The understanding of such a matrix is not straightforward in the case, in particular, of a strongly depolarizing medium, which is therefore disturbed and where relevant pieces of information are often distributed among its various elements. As a result, information data need to be extracted by a decomposition of any Mueller matrix into simple elements to uncouple the existing polarimetric effects. This led us to develop an algorithm in order to characterize any depolarizing, or not, polarimetric system. In addition to differentiating the experimental noise from the intrinsic depolarization of the optical system under study, this algorithm proved to: (i) separate depolarization from birefringence and dichroism and (ii) characterize the isotropic or anisotropic nature of the depolarization. At last, this algorithm was validated through the study of several optical systems with different polarimetric properties.     

The covariant electromagnetic Casimir effect for real conducting cylindrical shells

Using covariant quantization of the electromagnetic field, the Casimir force per unit area experienced by a long conducting cylindrical shell, under both Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions, is calculated. The renormalization procedure is based on the plasma cut-off frequency for real conductors. The real case of a gold (silver) cylindrical shell is considered and the corresponding electromagnetic Casimir pressure is computed. It is discussed that the Dirichlet and Neumann problems should be considered separately without adding their corresponding results.     

Birefringence simulation of annealed ingot of magnesium fluoride single crystal

We developed a method for simulating birefringence of an annealed ingot of MgF₂ single crystal for lithography optics. This method provides the optical path difference caused by crystal symmetry and residual stress existing in the crystal. The method consists of the heat conduction analysis, the residual stress analysis and the birefringence analysis. Because there exists no experimental data on the inelastic behavior of MgF₂ single crystal, the residual stress was estimated with the elastic thermal stress analysis using the finite element method by assuming a stress-free temperature. In this analysis, the temperature dependence of material properties and crystal anisotropy were taken into account. In the birefringence analysis, the distributions of optical path difference were calculated by an approximate method using the result of the residual stress analysis. This approximate method uses the average stress along the wave normal and is equivalent to the exact method in case of low stress dealt with the present study. In this analysis, it is possible to consider both the intrinsic birefringence and the stress birefringence in any crystal orientation. The distribution of the optical path difference in the annealed ingot obtained from the present calculation agrees qualitatively with that of the experiment. Its calculated value also agrees reasonably well with that of the experiment, when a stress-free temperature is adequately selected.     

The Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann law in the elastic theory of glass transition

We propose that the origin of the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann law is the increase of the range of elastic interaction between local relaxation events in a liquid. In this picture, we discuss the origin of cooperativity of relaxation, the absence of divergence of relaxation time at a finite temperature and the crossover to a more Arrhenius behavior at low temperature.     

Zero-point momentum in complex media

In this work we apply field regularization techniques to formulate a number of new phenomena related to momentum induced by electromagnetic zero-point fluctuations. We discuss the zero-point momentum associated with magneto-electric media, with moving media, and with magneto-chiral media.     

Polarization-selective grating mirrors used in the generation of radial polarization

Two novel methods to control the polarization of laser radiation are presented. The discrimination between different polarization distributions isperformed with a corrugation grating in the top high-index layer of a multilayer mirror, which couples the undesired polarization into a lossy waveguidemode of the multilayer. The generation of radially polarized radiation in a laser resonator is presented as a practical verification of the principle.This revised version was published online in May 2005. The Article Category was removed.This revised version was published online in August 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Ultimate quantum limits for resolution of beam displacements

We compare two high sensitivity techniques which are used to measure very small displacements of physical objects by optical techniques: the interferometric devices, measuring longitudinal phase shifts, and the devices used to monitor transverse displacement of light beams. We detail the differences and the similarities for the quantum limits on the resolution of both systems. In both cases squeezed light can be used to resolve beyond the standard quantum limit and number correlated states allow us to reach the “Heisenberg” limit. Received 12 September 2002 Published online 21 January 2003     

A ponderomotive scheme for QND measurement of quadrature component

We propose a scheme for quantum nondemolition (QND) measurement of the quadrature component of a traveling wave, which uses the nonlinear ponderomotive interaction of electromagnetic waves reflected from a movable mirror. The influence of mechanical and optical losses and of imbalance in the interferometer arms is analyzed. Received: 27 March 1996 / Revised version: 25 September 1996     

Collective atomic spin squeezing and control

Using a quantum theory for an ensemble of two- or three-level atoms driven by electromagnetic fields in an optical cavity, we show that the various spins associated with the atomic ensemble can be squeezed. Two kinds of squeezing are obtained: on the one hand self-spin squeezing when the input fields are coherent ones and the atomic ensemble exhibits a large non-linearity; on the other hand squeezing transfer when one of the incoming fields is squeezed. Received 14 August 2001 and Received in final form 7 November 2001