ABSTRACT
The Maxwell equations are of fundamental importance since they describe the whole of classical electromagnetic phenomena. From a classical perspective, light can be described as waves of electromagnetic radiation. As such, the Maxwell equations are very useful to illustrate a number of the characteristics of light including polarization. The R. C. Jones calculus is a matrix approach to describe, in a unified form, both linear and circular polarization. It was introduced by Jones and a good review of the subject is given by B. A. Robson. Salient features of the Jones calculus are described without derivation. Glan-type polarizers are very useful since they can be oriented to discriminate in favor of either polarization component with negligible beam deviation. Normally these polarizers are made of either quartz or calcite. In Glan-type polarizers, the extraordinary ray is transmitted from the first to the second prism in the propagation direction of the incident beam.
