Classical and Quantum Analysis of Light Transmission Through Polarizing Filters

TL;DR

This paper compares classical and quantum models of light transmission through polarizing filters, demonstrating how classical laws and quantum state descriptions explain the same phenomena.

Contribution

It provides a combined classical and quantum analysis of light passing through polarizers, highlighting the differences and similarities in their descriptions.

Findings

Classical analysis using Malus's Law for various filter arrangements.

Quantum description employing state notation and probabilistic projections.

Comparison of classical and quantum predictions for polarization transmission.

Abstract

We analyze the behavior of light as it passes through systems composed of polarizing filters at different angular orientations. The analysis is initially conducted in the context of classical optics, using Malus's Law to calculate the transmitted intensity for the cases of two perpendicular filters (0 and 90 degrees) and three filters (0, 45, and 90 degrees). We then apply quantum mechanics to describe the phenomenon using state notation and the probabilistic interpretation of the projection of the polarization states of photons.