Abstract

In a classic paper that may be regarded as the starting point of polarization optics, G. G. Stokes [Trans. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 9, 399 (1852)] presented a theorem according to which any light beam is equivalent to the sum of two light beams, one of which is completely polarized and the other completely unpolarized. We show that Stokes’ proof of this theorem is flawed. We present a condition for the theorem to be valid.

© 2008 Optical Society of America

Comment on “Can a light beam be considered to be the sum of a completely polarized and a completely unpolarized beam?”

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Reply to Comment on “Can a light beam be considered to be the sum of a completely polarized and a completely unpolarized beam?”

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Opt. Lett. 34(7) 1002-1002 (2009)

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