Conditions for polarization elements to be dichroic and birefringent

Abstract

The polarization of light when it passes through optical media can change as a result of change in the amplitude (dichroism) or phase shift (birefringence) of the electric vector. The anisotropic properties of media can be determined from these two optical features. We derive the conditions required for polarization elements to be dichroic and birefringent. Our derivation starts from commonly accepted assumptions for dichroism and birefringence. Our main conclusions are that (i) the generalized Jones matrix for dichroic elements has in general nonorthogonal eigenpolarizations and (ii) in the general case, the birefringent and dichroic properties of polarization elements have no direct association with the corresponding phase and dichroic polar forms derived in the polar decomposition of the polarization elements' Jones matrices.

Symmetry between partially polarised light and partial polarisers in the vectorial Pauli algebraic formalism

“…The orthogonal dichroic devices (homogeneous partial polarizers) (15) are represented in polarization optics by Hermitian operators, which have the following general Pauli algebraic expression:…”

Supra-organization and optical anisotropies of the extracellular matrix in the amniotic membrane and limbal stroma before and after explant culture

“…In addition, they display important optical anisotropic properties, which result from elements that are periodically ordered at the atomic and molecular levels [20]. The incidence of polarized electromagnetic waves on anisotropic structures leads to measurable changes in phase or amplitude of the orthogonal components of the electric vector, known as birefringence and dichroism, respectively [20][21][22][23][24][25]. Studies on birefringence and dichroim (using polarized light microscope and image analysis) inform us as supramolecular organizations react with adaptation and flexibility to the morpho-functional or pathological requirements [26].…”

Time-varying polarization devices: vectorial Pauli algebraic approach

“…The polarization devices (and, more generally, anisotropic and dichroic media) 1 pertain to the very large class of "two-state" or "two-beam" physical systems, [2][3][4][5] the algebra of all these systems being the same. This algebra is that of the linear operators defined on a unitary space of dimension two over the field of complex numbers C 1 .…”