ABSTRACT
Depending on the nature and characteristics of the field fluctuations, the mentioned cases of totally polarized, partially polarized, and unpolarized states can be distinguished, provided that the plane containing the polarization ellipse is constant during the measurement time. In the case of partially polarized states, the azimuth or the ellipticity of the polarization ellipse varies during the measurement time and a different mathematical description, different from that used in the Jones approach, is necessary in order to take into account all parameters that characterize completely the state of polarization. Totally polarized waves maintain the azimuth and ellipticity of the polarization ellipse fixed, whereas the size of the ellipse fluctuates, resulting in a mean intensity over the measurement time. Electromagnetic waves are produced by accelerated charges as well as by any kind of nuclear, atomic, and molecular emissions, so that the electromagnetic wave can be considered to be composed of a very high number of more or less independent contributions.
