Polarization correlations in quantum optics

• The standard degree of polarization involves exclusively first-order moments of the Stokes variables. This may be sufficient for most classical problems, but for quantum fields higher-order correlations are crucial. We claim that a complete polarization characterization must involve a whole hierarchy of polarization degrees constructed order by order, as it happens in coherence theory. We present here a second-order degree and determine it experimentally.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Atom- och molekylfysik och optik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Classical problems

Coherence theory

Degree of polarization

First-order moments

Higher order correlation

Polarization correlation

Polarization degree

Second orders

Polarization

Quantum optics

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)