Evolution of the polarization of electromagnetic waves in weakly anisotropic inhomogeneous media — a comparison of quasi-isotropic approximations of the geometrical optics method and the Stokes vector formalism |
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Authors: | Yury A Kravtsov Bohdan Bieg |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Physics, Maritime University Szczecin, Wały Chrobrego 1-2, 70-500 Szczecin, Poland;(2) Space Research Institute, Russ. Acad. Sci., Profsoyuznaya 82/34, 117997 Moscow, Russia |
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Abstract: | The main methods describing polarization of electromagnetic waves in weakly anisotropic inhomogeneous media are reviewed:
the quasi-isotropic approximation (QIA) of geometrical optics method that deals with coupled equations for electromagnetic
field components, and the Stokes vector formalism (SVF), dealing with Stokes vector components, which are quadratic in electromagnetic
field intensity. The equation for the Stokes vector evolution is shown to be derived directly from QIA, whereas the inverse
cannot be true. Derivation of SVF from QIA establishes a deep unity of these two approaches, which happen to be equivalent
up to total phase. It is pointed out that in contrast to QIA, the Stokes vector cannot be applied for a polarization analysis
of the superposition of coherent electromagnetic beams. Additionally, the ability of QIA to describe a normal modes conversion
in inhomogeneous media is emphasized.
Presented at 9-th International Workshop on Nonlinear Optics Applications, NOA 2007, May 17–20, 2007, Świnoujście, Poland |
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Keywords: | quasi-isotropic approximation polarization anisotropy weakly anisotropic inhomogeneous media Stokes vector |
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