Stokes parameters and polarization contrasts in Young's interference experiment |
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Authors: | Setälä Tero Tervo Jani Friberg Ari T |
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Affiliation: | Department of Engineering Physics and Mathematics, Helsinki University of Technology, Finland. Tero.Setala@tkk.fi |
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Abstract: | We derive a spectral interference law that governs the behavior of the four Stokes parameters in Young's two-pinhole experiment with a random electromagnetic beam. In addition to the visibility of intensity fringes, we introduce three new contrast parameters that describe the interference-induced changes in the field's state of partial polarization. The polarization modulation depends on the electric field correlations at the pinholes and is closely related to the two-point Stokes parameters. The results are expected to be particularly useful in polarization interferometry and electromagnetic coherence theory. The formalism is demonstrated with specific examples. |
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