Stokesparametreillä

Stokes parameters are a set of four real numbers that completely describe the polarization state of light. They were introduced by the Irish physicist Sir George Stokes in 1852. These parameters provide a convenient way to characterize the intensity and polarization properties of light, regardless of whether the light is completely polarized, partially polarized, or unpolarized.

The four Stokes parameters, often denoted as S0, S1, S2, and S3, are defined in terms of the intensities of light components measured with specific polarization filters. S0 represents the total intensity of the light. S1 relates to the difference in intensity between horizontally and vertically polarized light. S2 is associated with the difference in intensity between light polarized at +45 degrees and -45 degrees. Finally, S3 describes the difference in intensity between right-handed and left-handed circularly polarized light.

These parameters can be represented as a vector known as the Stokes vector. Manipulating polarized light with optical elements like polarizers and waveplates corresponds to matrix multiplication of the Stokes vector by a Mueller matrix that characterizes the optical element. This formalism is widely used in optics, polarimetry, and remote sensing for analyzing and understanding the interaction of light with matter.