Generalized Stokes vector for three photon process

TL;DR

This paper extends the Stokes Mueller formalism to three-photon nonlinear scattering processes by deriving a 16-component triple Stokes vector and a 4x16 Mueller matrix to analyze material responses to polarized light.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical derivation of a triple Stokes vector for three-photon processes using quantum operator methods, expanding polarization analysis tools.

Findings

Derived a 16-component triple Stokes vector.

Constructed a 4x16 Mueller matrix for three-photon scattering.

Proposed a method for experimental determination of the matrix.

Abstract

Stokes Muller formalism is important to understand the optical properties of materials by measuring the change in the polarization state of light upon scattering. The formalism can be extended to nonlinear scattering processes involving two and three photon processes. In this work, we derive a triple Stokes vector analytically using operator approach used in quantum theory of light. A three photon polarization state can be described by Stokes vector that has sixteen components involving cubes of intensities. The response of a material for the scattering of light in a three photon process is described by 4 x 16 Muller matrix. Polarization in Polarization out (PIPO) experiments can be carried out to determine the elements of Muller matrix. For that we identify 16 independent points in Poincare sphere and construct triple Stokes vector for each point. Four measurements to find the linear Stokes vector of the scattered light for incident light in each of the sixteen three photon states determine the Muller matrix of the sample.