Analytical description of the evolution of polarized light in homogeneous retarders using Jones formalism

Abstract

In this work we present analytical expressions for the trajectories depicted in the complex plane by the evolution of the state of polarization of totally polarized light, as it propagates through a homogeneous retarder. For any retarder and input state of polarization of the signal, the polarization state evolves, depicting one circle on the complex plane. The radius and position of each circle depends on the orientation of the fast birefringence axis of the sample, the polarization state of the input signal and the specific anisotropy of the medium.