Polarization Coherence Theorem

TL;DR

The paper introduces the Polarization Coherence Theorem, a precise equality linking polarization, visibility, and distinguishability in wave-ray duality, enhancing understanding of their interrelation.

Contribution

It establishes a new tight equality, the Polarization Coherence Theorem, connecting polarization with wave-ray duality measures.

Findings

Polarization squared equals the sum of visibility squared and distinguishability squared.

The theorem provides a more complete description of wave-ray duality.

It offers a precise mathematical relation unifying key optical properties.

Abstract

Visibility $V$ and distinguishability $D$ quantify wave-ray duality: $V^2 + D^2 \le 1$. We join them to polarization $P$ via the Polarization Coherence Theorem, a tight equality: $P^2 = V^2 + D^2$.