Hello everyone, i did not understand why we are finding polarization states by assuming light as a wave? Don't you think that if we assume light also particle i.e photon then by using quantum mechanics we can find accuracy in finding polarization states?
Maybe i did not explain my question well but i think a good thinker can easily guess my thinking. Thanks
accuracy and quantum mechanics? They are poles apart. haven't heard of uncertainty principle? Polarization is better explained using wave property.
@Vikash thanks for your reply, then what is mean by quantum state of polarization???
The connection between the two is mentioned in the attached two links!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jones_calculus#The_Jones_vector
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photon_polarization#States.2C_probability_amplitudes.2C_unitary_and_Hermitian_operators.2C_and_eigenvectors
In the classical theory, light of general polarization may be broken in two parts. We can think of a superposition of light waves polarized parallel and perpendicular to the polarizer. For example, if we have a wave (travelling along the positive X direction) with amplitude A0 which is polarized at an angle μ to the Z axis, this is a linear combination of a vertically polarized wave with amplitude A0 cos(μ) and a horizontally polarized wave with amplitude A0 sin(μ). In terms of the maximum electric field vector, we have
A0=A0 cos(μ) ˆk + A0 sin(μ) ˆy
Now, it is possible to think of these two components as two separate waves that are superposed on one another, where the first will pass through a polarizer while the second will be absorbed. The transmitted wave will be a vertically polarized wave with amplitude A0 cos(μ), with maximum electric field vector
At0= A0 cos(μ) ˆk
I think that the following book gives an excellent explaination on the polarization of photons.
Bachor H-A. and Ralph C.T.C., A Guide to Experiments in Quantum Optics (Weinheim: Wiley, 2004).
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Physical Sciences
- Quantum Physics
- Quantum Mechanics