A Quantum Mechanical Approach To The Polarization Transport of Photons

TL;DR

This paper presents a quantum mechanical framework for analyzing the polarization transport of photons in media with slowly varying refractive indices, revealing effects like the spin Hall effect and polarization rotation due to Berry phase.

Contribution

It introduces a universal quantum mechanical approach to photon polarization transport, applicable to other spinning particles in inhomogeneous media.

Findings

Photon polarizations separate in opposite directions normal to the ray.

Polarization plane rotation occurs as a Berry phase effect.

The approach can be generalized to other spinning particles.

Abstract

Based on quantum mechanical approach the polarization transport of photons which propagate in a medium with slow varying refractive index is studied. The photon polarizations are separated in opposite directions normal to the ray which is called "Spin Hall effect" of photons, and also the rotation of polarization plane, a manifestation of the Berry phase, occurs. This approach can be generalized to other spinning particles in inhomogeneous media as a universal approach.