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Updated: May 13, 2026
07:56
A Photonic System for Generating Unconditional Polarization-Entangled Photons Based on Multiple Quantum Interference
Published on: September 5, 2019
Partial polarization theory of pulsed optical beams
Timo Voipio1, Tero Setälä, Ari T Friberg
1Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 13500, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland. timo.voipio@aalto.fi
Summary
We present a new matrix method to describe the partial polarization and coherence of electromagnetic beams. This framework connects temporal and spectral properties, revealing equivalences between different coherence behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Electromagnetism
- Wave Phenomena
Background:
- Characterizing the polarization and coherence of electromagnetic beams is crucial in optics.
- Understanding nonstationary (time-varying) and broadband (frequency-varying) beams presents unique challenges.
- Existing formalisms may not fully capture the interplay between temporal and spectral characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a unified matrix formalism for analyzing partial polarization and coherence.
- To establish connections between temporal and spectral properties of electromagnetic beams.
- To demonstrate the theory using Gaussian Schell-model pulsed beams.
Main Methods:
- Development of a consistent matrix formalism for polarization and coherence.
- Derivation of temporal and spectral degrees of polarization and Stokes parameters.
- Formulation of equivalence theorems relating temporal and spectral coherence properties.
Main Results:
- A consistent matrix framework for characterizing random, nonstationary electromagnetic beams is established.
- Explicit relations between temporal/spectral polarization and coherence are derived.
- Equivalence theorems demonstrate how different coherence can lead to similar polarization states.
Conclusions:
- The proposed matrix formalism provides a powerful tool for analyzing complex electromagnetic beams.
- The established connections and equivalences offer new insights into the behavior of light.
- The framework is validated through the analysis of Gaussian Schell-model pulsed beams.
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