ABSTRACT
The chapter introduces the basics of polarized light. This includes the representation of polarized light by means of the polarization ellipse, the linear and circular complex plane representation of polarization states, and the visualization of polarization states on the Poincaré sphere. The chapter then explains linear and circular birefringence and introduces the index ellipsoid of uniaxial and biaxial crystals. Important polarization elements, particularly crystal polarizes and waveplates, are introduced. A major part of the chapter is dedicated to the Jones matrix calculus for describing the propagation of polarized light through birefringent media. A Table summarizes the Jones matrices of important polarization elements in the linear and circular bases.
