Prof. Hewitt at Dalhousie University has some nice notes on optics here. Lecture 34 is relevant for tomorrow, we'll be discussing polarization and learning how to calculate multi-component optical systems from Jones matrices.
Basically, Jones matrices are similar to what you already know about vectors and rotations in 2D, general 'transformation matrices' that let you quickly calculate how polarized beams of light emerge from various optical components like polarizers. It is a lot like dealing with spin in quantum mechanics, which you'll see soon enough, but basically it is just rotating vectors.
These notes of mine discuss rotation & (mirror) transformation matrices a little bit, enough to give you the idea.
Basically, Jones matrices are similar to what you already know about vectors and rotations in 2D, general 'transformation matrices' that let you quickly calculate how polarized beams of light emerge from various optical components like polarizers. It is a lot like dealing with spin in quantum mechanics, which you'll see soon enough, but basically it is just rotating vectors.
These notes of mine discuss rotation & (mirror) transformation matrices a little bit, enough to give you the idea.
FWIW, the links to Hewitt's notes have been unresponsive for the past couple days. They were good while they lasted though.
ReplyDeleteToo bad; they were nice notes.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll try to send Prof. Hewitt a note to see if he plans to keep them online at all.
They're back!
ReplyDelete