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arXiv:1306.0351 · Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Quantum versus classical polarization states: when multipoles count

L L Sánchez-Soto, A B Klimov, P de la Hoz, Gerd Leuchs

Published May 9, 2013• 22 citations
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Abstract

We advocate for a simple multipole expansion of the polarization density matrix. The resulting multipoles are used to construct bona fide quasiprobability distributions that appear as a sum of successive moments of the Stokes variables; the first one corresponding to the classical picture on the Poincare sphere. We employ the particular case of the $Q$ function to formulate a whole hierarchy of measures that properly assess higher-order polarization correlations.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/46/10/104011

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