Experimental display of the extended polarization coherence theorem

P. Sánchez, J. Gonzales, V. Avalos +3 more

We report experimental results that show the interplay between visibility, distinguishability, and the degree of polarization, as ruled by a recent extension of the polarization coherence theorem (PCT). Theorems of this kind address duality in both quantum and classical scenarios. We particularly focus on the inherent vector nature of the polarization degree of freedom and display various effects that lie beyond the scope of the original PCT. Our results exhibit features that can be shared by quantum and classical phenomena, whenever these phenomena reflect some hidden or exposed coherence.

Girish Ashok Kulkarni, Anand K. Jha

Terry van Dijk

Bhaskar Kanseri, K. R. Sethuraj

For light fields, the manifestation of correlations between fluctuating electric field components at different space–time points is referred to as coherence, whereas these correlations appearing between orthogonal electric field components at a single space–time point are referred to as polarization. In this context, a natural question is as follows: how are coherence and polarization interconnected? Very recently, a tight equality P2=V2+D2, namely, the “polarization coherence theorem” (PCT) connecting polarization P with interference visibility V (measure of coherence) and distinguishability D (measure of which-path information) has been proposed [Optica4, 1113 (2017)OPTIC82334-253610.1364/OPTICA.4.001113]. We here report a direct observation of the PCT for classical light fields using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer along with a synthesized source producing a complete gamut of degrees of polarizations. Our experimental demonstration could motivate ongoing experimental efforts toward probing the hidden coherences and complementarity features.

Dennis Sivers

The coherent spin rotation of stored particle beams produces macroscopic states with familiar quantum properties. Because massive quantum systems with spin greater than or equal to one display instructive interference effects not accessible with spin one‐half particles, we discuss the sequential rotation and decoherence of a stored polarized deuteron beam. Experimental measurements on such systems should produce unique quantum effects.

Philippe Réfrégier