Purity of 3D polarization

Measures of purity for 3D partially polarized fields, and in particular, the separation into circularly and linearly polarized contributions, are reexamined, and a new degree of total linear polarization introduced. Explicit expressions for the characteristic decomposition in terms of coherency matrix elements are presented, including the special case of an intrinsic coherency matrix. Parameterization of the coherency matrix in terms of ellipticity, and the directions of the ellipse normal and major axis are investigated. Phase consistency is discussed. A comprehensive collection of results regarding intrinsic polarization properties is presented. (c) 2021 Optica Publishing Group

Automated summary

This article reexamines the measures of purity for 3D partially polarized fields, focusing on the separation of circularly and linearly polarized contributions and introducing a new degree of total linear polarization. Explicit expressions for the characteristic decomposition based on coherency matrix elements are presented, including the special case of an intrinsic coherency matrix. The parameterization of the coherency matrix in terms of ellipticity, and the directions of the ellipse normal and major axis are investigated. The discussion also includes phase consistency and provides a comprehensive collection of results regarding intrinsic polarization properties.