Polarization of Light

Understanding the polarization of light is becoming increasingly important in the study of laser physics, nonlinear optics, and optical waveguides. This book covers the basics of polarized light representation, the propagation of light through anisotropic media, the mathematical formalism used, and induced anisotropy, devices which use induced or natural anisotropy and polarization phenomena in guided optics. Discusses both fundamentals and applications in a range of practical devices. Gives a global view of the state of polarization representation. Polarized Optical Waves.

Light Propagation in an Anisotropic Dielectric Medium.

Propagation of the States of Polarization in Optical Devices.

Stress-Induced or Stress-Modified Anisotropy.

Components and Devices Used in the Context of Optical Anisotropy.

Polarization Phenomena in the Fied of Guided Waves.

Appendices.

Bibliography.

Index.

Serge Huard is the author of Polarization of Light, published by Wiley. Polarization of Light Serge Huard École Nationale Supérieure de Physique de Marseille, France The study, and understanding, of the polarization of light is becoming increasingly important in a number of disciplines in the optical sciences. A sound knowledge of the subject is needed, for example, in the study of laser physics, nonlinear optics, and optical waveguides. Polarization of Light, aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as researchers active in the optical sciences, introduces the reader to the basics of polarized light representation. It discusses the propagation of light through anisotropic media, the mathematical formalism used and included anisotropy, and concludes with chapters discussing practical components and devices, and polarization phenomena in guided optics. Polarization of Light will be extremely useful both as a detailed introduction to the subject for students of optical physics, and also as a reference source for students and more advanced researchers in the field.