POLARIZATION Linear elliptical circular Construct through components Polarization

POLARIZATION Linear – elliptical - circular Construct through components Polarization and coherence Polarizers Multiple order waveplates Birefringent plate as a spectral filter (Lyott filter) Multiple order as an ultrafast light switch Radial and Azimuthal polarizations

An initial (linear) polarization is sent through an optical system. The optical system has some anisotropy associated with it, that will define the axis that we will chose to represent all polarization.

WAVE PLATES X and Y are the axis of the waveplate. Circles: the components of the electric field along these axis. and y y y x Linear polarization x Quarter wave plate x circular polarization

The rich man polarization manipulator P y p x p s ? y x

The rich man polarization manipulator P y p x y s p x ?

The very rich man polarization manipulator P y p EO modulator x Electronically controlled polarization rotation

The rich man polarization manipulator P y p l/4 EO modulator x l/4 Electronically controlled polarization rotation

The rich man polarization manipulator P y p EO modulator x Electronically controlled polarization rotation

The rich man polarization manipulator P y p EO modulator x Electronically controlled polarization rotation

Ey If only a fraction ε is sent to the sample Incident polarization e REF EOM PBS o e D: phase difference between sample and REF Sample

Pedrotti Chapter 9 Coherence time, coherence length Coherence length Michelson D Sodium doublet 588. 9950 and 589. 5924 nm Spatial coherence: t Coherence time

Polarization and coherence Is there something such as “polarization coherence”? P y p x

Polarization and coherence y p P x D