Abstract

The loci of polarization states for which either the ellipticity alone or the azimuth alone remains invariant upon passing through an optical system are introduced. The cartesian equations of these two loci are derived in the complex plane in which the polarization states are represented. The equations are quartic and are conveniently expressed in terms of the elements of the Jones. matrix of the optical system. As an exple the loci are determined for a system composed of a π/4 rotator followed by a quarter-wave retarder.

© 1973 Optical Society of America

Parametric Equation for the Locus of Invariant-Ellipticity States of an Optical System

R. M. A. Azzam and N. M. Bashara
Appl. Opt. 12(11) 2545_1-2547 (1973)

Polarization Transfer Function of an Optical System as a Bilinear Transformation*

R. M. A. Azzam and N. M. Bashara
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 62(2) 222-229 (1972)

Trajectories Describing the Evolution of Polarized Light in Homogeneous Anisotropic Media and Liquid Crystals

R. M. A. Azzam, B. E. Merrill, and N. M. Bashara
Appl. Opt. 12(4) 764-771 (1973)

Elliptic polarization represented by the Carter and Smith charts

P. S. Theocaris
Appl. Opt. 18(23) 4017-4024 (1979)

Caustic Surfaces and Irradiance for Reflection and Refraction from an Ellipsoid, Elliptic Paraboloid, and Elliptic Cone

David L. Shealy and Donald G. Burkhard
Appl. Opt. 12(12) 2955-2959 (1973)