Mueller matrices

[′myu̇l·ər ¦mā·trə‚sēz]

(optics)

Matrix operators in a calculus used to treat polarized light; in this calculus, the light vector is split into four components one of which is the intensity of the light, and unpolarized light can be treated directly.

References in periodicals archive ?

The average DoP of the exiting light averaged over the Poincare sphere and the DI (even though it is very often close to the average DoP) can differ by more than 0.5 for certain Mueller matrices. Zhu and Cai [28] derived analytical formula for the CSDM of a twisted electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model (TEGSM) beam propagating through an astigmatic ABCD optical system in gain or absorbing media and studied numerically the evolution properties of the DoP of a TEGSM beam in a Gaussian cavity filled with gain media.

DI = 1 corresponds to non-depolarizing Mueller matrices and DI = 0 corresponds to an ideal depolarizer.

In practice, nonphysical Mueller matrices are occasionally elicited by measurement error, calibration error, and noise.

Polarization characteristics of a partially coherent Gaussian Schell-model beam in slant atmospheric turbulence

The book begins with a review of the polarized nature of electromagnetic energy and radiometry, then looks at ways to characterize a beam of polarized energy (Stokes vectors) and polarized energy matter interactions (Mueller matrices).