Vectorial Pauli algebraic approach in polarization optics. I. Device and state operators

This paper inscribes on the line of the efforts (sketched in the Introduction) in elaborating theoretical approaches alternative to the traditional Jones and Mueller matrix calculi in polarization optics. The more abstract, compact and elevated forms of linear algebra are not fully exploited yet in the polarization optics. A vectorial and pure operatorial Pauli algebraic approach to the interaction between the polarized light and the polarization optical systems is given. This is the most compact, adequate and elegant calculus corresponding to the well-known geometric handling of the polarization states and their interaction with the polarization devices on the Poincaré sphere. In this first paper, we deduce the Pauli algebraic vectorial forms of the operators corresponding to the orthogonal and nonorthogonal polarization devices and to all the states of light polarization. In the next paper we shall give the vectorial Pauli algebraic analysis of the interaction between the whole hierarchy of these devices and the various forms of polarized light.     

Operatorial form of the theory of polarization optical devices: I. Spectral theory of the basic devices

While the theory of operators in quantum mechanics is expressed nowadays in a pure operatorial form (wrapped mostly in Dirac's symbolic language), in optics the polarization device operators and their action are analyzed yet in the old matrix (Jones or Muller) formalism. The theory of polarization device operators has not taken systematically advantage of the very general, fundamental and deep results of the spectral theory of operators, on the basis of which it can be structured in an elegant deductive and physically expressive form. In this paper we apply the spectral theorem to the polarization device operators, we calculate their expansions in a pure operatorial Dirac-dyadic form and give some examples which illustrate the advantages from the physical insight viewpoint of such an approach. We are concerning here only with the basic polarization devices, to which correspond normal operators.     

Use of Dirac matrices in polarization optics

Several matrix methods have been developed for studying polarization properties of light. Jones was the first to apply the matrix method to the study of polarization optics. In Jones matrix formalism the polarized wave field is represented by 2-element column matrix known as Jones Vector and the polarization device encountered by light is represented by a 2×2 matrix, known as the characteristic Jones matrix of the device. Mueller introduced a new matrix method where the wave field is represented by a 4-dimensional vector. The elements of the vector are the Stokes parameters of the beam. In Mueller matrix formalism the optical device is represented by a 4×4 real matrix known as ‘Mueller Matrix’ of the device. The use of coherency matrix also proves to the useful in the study of partially polarized light. Pauli spin matrices have been used to unify the different matrix treatments of polarization optical phenomena. The present article is an attempt to unify the analysis of polarization phenomena using Dirac matrices used by Dirac in quantum mechanics. We have however redefined the set of Dirac matrices in terms of the Kronecher product of Pauli spin matrices.     

Quantum theory as a description of robust experiments: Derivation of the Pauli equation

It is shown that the Pauli equation and the concept of spin naturally emerge from logical inference applied to experiments on a charged particle under the conditions that (i) space is homogeneous (ii) the observed events are logically independent, and (iii) the observed frequency distributions are robust with respect to small changes in the conditions under which the experiment is carried out. The derivation does not take recourse to concepts of quantum theory and is based on the same principles which have already been shown to lead to e.g. the Schrödinger equation and the probability distributions of pairs of particles in the singlet or triplet state. Application to Stern–Gerlach experiments with chargeless, magnetic particles, provides additional support for the thesis that quantum theory follows from logical inference applied to a well-defined class of experiments.     

Analytical treatment of light extraction from textured surfaces using classical ray optics

Regular periodic textures e.g., microlens arrays, micro-pyramids, and cones on substrate surface have been used to enhance light out-coupling in light emitting devices. Photon randomization, often associated with surface roughening, has been suggested as the mechanism for out-coupling enhancement. This article analytically investigates the ray dynamics in a light emitting device when periodic texture is used as an external out-coupler. An attempt has been made to understand the relationship between enhancement in out-coupling and the surface inclination of these structures using classical ray optics.     

A note on the Pauli problem in light of approximate joint measurements

We show that there exist informationally incomplete phase space observables such that the Cartesian margins are informationally equivalent with position and momentum. This shows that it is possible to reconstruct the position and momentum distributions of a quantum system from the statistics of a single observable, and thus a single measurement, even though the state of the system is not uniquely determined by the statistics.     

Scattering and absorption of light by ice particles: Solution by a new physical-geometric optics hybrid method

A new physical-geometric optics hybrid (PGOH) method is developed to compute the scattering and absorption properties of ice particles. This method is suitable for studying the optical properties of ice particles with arbitrary orientations, complex refractive indices (i.e., particles with significant absorption), and size parameters (proportional to the ratio of particle size to incident wavelength) larger than ∼20, and includes consideration of the edge effects necessary for accurate determination of the extinction and absorption efficiencies. Light beams with polygon-shaped cross sections propagate within a particle and are traced by using a beam-splitting technique. The electric field associated with a beam is calculated using a beam-tracing process in which the amplitude and phase variations over the wavefront of the localized wave associated with the beam are considered analytically. The geometric-optics near field for each ray is obtained, and the single-scattering properties of particles are calculated from electromagnetic integral equations. The present method does not assume additional physical simplifications and approximations, except for geometric optics principles, and may be regarded as a “benchmark” within the framework of the geometric optics approach. The computational time is on the order of seconds for a single-orientation simulation and is essentially independent of the size parameter. The single-scattering properties of oriented hexagonal ice particles (ice plates and hexagons) are presented. The numerical results are compared with those computed from the discrete-dipole-approximation (DDA) method.     

Statistical Interaction Description of Pauli Crystals in 2D Systems of Harmonically Confined Fermions

It is conjectured that the Pauli exclusion principle alone may be responsible for a particular geometric arrangement of confined systems of identical fermions even when there is no interaction between them. These geometric structures, called Pauli crystals, are predicted for a two‐dimensional (2D) system of free fermions under harmonic confinement. In this work, the possibility of this outcome is pursued and a theoretical model is considered that may capture both qualitatively and quantitatively, the key features of the abovementioned setup. The results for $N=3$ and 6 particles show that the minimum energy configuration corresponds to and is in good quantitative agreement with the reported values of Pauli crystals seen in single‐shot imaging data obtained via the configuration density technique. Numerical results for larger systems of $N=15$ and 30 particles show that the crystalline configurations observed are not the same as the classical Wigner crystal structures that emerge should the confined charged particles interact with a Coulomb potential. An important question floated is whether such crystalline structures do really exist in a quantum system or whether they are artifacts of the methods used to analyze them.     

Pauli blocking in degenerate plasmas and the separable potential approach

The Mott effect describes the dissolution of bound states in a dense partially ionized plasma. It occurs when the ionization potential depression, owing to effects of correlation and degeneracy, compensates the binding energy of the bound state. At high densities and moderate temperatures, the Pauli blocking becomes important and influences significantly the degree of ionization in the region of degenerate plasmas. A quantum statistical approach is used where the total density is decomposed in an uncorrelated, “free” part and correlations, as a consequence of the cluster decomposition of the self‐energy. The contribution of correlations to the total density is given by bound states and continuum correlations. Exact solutions for a separable potential are compared to perturbation theory and numerical solutions of the in‐medium Schrödinger equation. The in‐medium scattering phase shifts are evaluated, and the role of continuum correlations is discussed. The Pauli blocking of bound states and the density of states are considered for warm dense matter conditions.     

光学教学中的偏振度定义

分析了当前国内部分光学教材中对偏振度定义的歧义,指出依照电矢量在不同方向上的强度来定义偏振度的不完整性,并由此提出教学中的注意点．     

Spin polarization transitions in the FQHE

The spin polarization of the FQHE ground states at fixed filling factors is analyzed within a composite fermion model. As a function of the perpendicular magnetic field several cross‐overs between differently polarized ground states are predicted, in agreement with recent experimental investigations. The magnetic field and temperature scalings of the polarization, as well as the magnetic field dependence of the spin‐flip gap are studied.     

双光子过程耦合腔系统中光场的量子特性

本文研究了双光子过程原子与耦合腔相互作用系统中腔场的压缩效应和反聚束效应.考虑系统总激发数等于2的情况,利用数值计算方法讨论了腔场间的耦合强度变化和原子与腔场间耦合强度变化对反聚束效应的影响.研究结果表明:腔场不呈现出压缩效应;腔场的反聚束效应与原子与腔场的耦合系数之间,以及与腔场间的耦合系数之间都存在着非线性关系.     

液晶空间光调制器在自适应光学中的应用

本文主要包括两方面的内容,一方面描述用液晶光阀产生空间与时间性能可控的小尺寸薄相位屏;另一方面则讨论用液晶空间光调制器实现波前相位畸变校正的可能性。从而表明,这类价格低廉、结构简单而性能可靠的非线性光学器件可望在高性能新型自适应光学系统中得到广泛应用。     

双光子过程耦合腔系统中光场的量子特性

本文研究了双光子过程原子与耦合腔相互作用系统中腔场的压缩效应和反聚束效应.考虑系统总激发数等于2的情况,利用数值计算方法讨论了腔场间的耦合强度变化和原子与腔场间耦合强度变化对反聚束效应的影响.研究结果表明:腔场不呈现出压缩效应;腔场的反聚束效应与原子与腔场的耦合系数之间,以及与腔场间的耦合系数之间都存在着非线性关系,     

The effect of the counter-rotating terms on the dynamical behaviour in the coherent-state jaynes-cummings model with cavity losses

Summary The effect of the counter-rotating terms in the coherent-state Jaynes-Cummings model with cavity losses is studied. Numerical results for the atomic-population inversion show a significant influence of the counter-rotating terms on the dynamical behaviour.     

用李代数方法解析研究线性三原子分子振动的动力学纠缠

采用李代数方法研究了线性三原子分子非线性伸缩振动的动力学纠缠,给出了描述纠缠行为的线性熵和冯诺伊曼熵的解析表达式,并分别讨论了初态为Fock态和相干态下的HCN和DCN分子伸缩振动纠缠的动力学性质.