Quantum Fluctuations in the Stokes Parameters of Light Propagating in a Kerr Medium

Autor: Stanisław Kielich, Ryszard Tanaś
Rok vydání: 1990
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Modern Optics. 37:1935-1945
ISSN: 1362-3044
0950-0340
DOI: 10.1080/09500349014552141
Popis: The quantum theory of light propagation in a nonlinear Kerr medium is applied to calculate the Stokes parameters and their variances in the process of light propagation. Exact quantum formulae are derived for the expectation values of the Stokes operators and thus for the azimuth θ and ellipticity η of the beam. The role of quantum fluctuations in light polarization characteristics is discussed. The periodic behaviour of quantum evolution of the light polarization is revealed explicitly. It is shown that the degree of polarization is diminished at early stages of each period of the evolution but then reverts to its initial state of complete polarization at the end of the period. The variances of the Stokes parameters are also periodic and intensity-dependent; however, they never fall below their coherent state values.
Databáze: OpenAIRE