Polarized Light, Revised and Expanded

The classical optical field: introduction; the wave equation in classical optics; the polarization ellipse; the Stokes polarization parameters. The Mueller matrices for polarizing components: methods for measuring the Stokes polarization parameters;the measurement of the characteristics of polarizing elements; Mueller matrices for reflection and transmission; the mathematics for the Mueller matrix; the mueller matrices for dielectrics plates; the Jones matrix calculus; the Poincare sphere; theinterference laws of Fresnel and Arago. The classical and quantum theory of radiation by accelerating charges: introduction; Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic field; the classical radiation field; radiation emitted by accelerating charges; theradiation of an accelerating charge in the electromagnetic field; the classical Zeeman effect; further applications of the classical radiation theory; the Stokes parameters and mueller matrices for optical and Faraday rotation; the Stokes parameters forquantum systems. Applications: introduction; crystal optics; optics of medals; polarization of optical elements; Stokes polarimetry; Mueller matrix polarimetry; ellipsometry. Appendices: Jones and Stokes Vectors; Jones and Mueller Matrices; relationshipsbetween the Jones and Mueller Matrix Elements; vector representation of the optical field - application to optical activity.