Vector representation of behavior of polarized light in a weakly inhomogeneous medium with birefringence and dichroism II Evolution of polarization states

Abstract

The properties of the equation ∂s/∂x3=Ω^×s+(T^×s)×s [ J. Opt. Soc. Am.73, 1719 ( 1983)] are further investigated. The solutions of the equation are derived when the birefringent vector Ω^ and the dichroic vector T^ are arbitrary constants and when the secondary principal axes of the dielectric tensor rotate uniformly. The properties of the solutions are clarified by using the unit Poincaré sphere, and some evolutions of the polarization states s are drawn by a computer on the sphere. These computer graphs are sufficient to illustrate the effects of Ω^ and T^ on the states s.