Stokes-vector evolution in a weakly anisotropic inhomogeneous medium

Abstract

Equation for evolution of the four-component Stokes vector in weakly anisotropic and smoothly inhomogeneous media is derived on the basis of quasi-isotropic approximation of the geometrical optics method, which provides consequent asymptotic solution of Maxwell equations. Our equation generalizes previous results, obtained for the normal propagation of electromagnetic waves in stratified media. It is valid for curvilinear rays with torsion and is capable to describe normal modes conversion in the inhomogeneous media. Remarkably, evolution of the Stokes vector is described by the Bargmann-Michel-Telegdi equation for relativistic spin precession, whereas the equation for the three-component Stokes vector resembles the Landau-Lifshitz equation for spin precession in ferromegnetic systems. General theory is applied for analysis of polarization evolution in a magnetized plasma. We also emphasize fundamental features of the non-Abelian polarization evolution in anisotropic inhomogeneous media and illustrate them by simple examples.

16 pages, 3 figures, to appear in J. Opt. Soc. Am. A

References in corpus (5)

• A semiclassical approach to the Dirac equation
• Non-Abelian evolution of electromagnetic waves in a weakly anisotropic inhomogeneous medium
• Maxwell-Schroedinger Equation for Polarized Light and Evolution of the Stokes Parameters
• Semiclassical limit of the Dirac equation and spin precession
• Diffraction of Gaussian beam in a 3D smoothly inhomogeneous media: eikonal-based complex geometrical optics approach

Cited by in corpus (13)

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• Geometrodynamics of polarized light: Berry phase and spin Hall effect in a gradient-index medium
• Singular polarimetry: Evolution of polarization singularities in electromagnetic waves propagating through a weakly anisotropic medium
• First-principle variational formulation of polarization effects in geometrical optics
• Extending geometrical optics: A Lagrangian theory for vector waves
• Lagrangian geometrical optics of nonadiabatic vector waves and spin particles
• Finsler Spinoptics
• Metaplectic geometrical optics for modeling caustics in uniform and nonuniform media
• Mode conversion in cold low-density plasma with a sheared magnetic field
• Lorentz group theory and polarization of the light
• Transitivity in the theory of the Lorentz group and the Stokes -- Mueller formalism in optics
• Factorizations for 3-rotations and polarization of the light in Mueller-Stokes an Jones formalisms