Coherent superposition of polarized light - a graphical representation of intensity vector.
W. A. Woźniak , P. Kurzynowski, F. Ratajczyk, Institute of Physics, Technical University of Wrocław Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Abstract
A graphical representation of coherent superposition of two waves on the 3D coordinate system based on Stokes vector parameters was presented. It was shown that if the phase shift between superposed waves is continuously changed the points representing resultant states of polarization and also the intensity of superposed light form ellipses on this 3D coordinate system. Simple analytical formulae describing these ellipses were derived.