1. Elliptical polarization

2. Linear polarization the two orthogonal components are in phase

3. Circular polarization the two orthogonal components have same amplitude and are +/-90 degrees out of phase.

4. Elliptical polarization the two components are not in phase and either do not have the same amplitude and/or are not 90 degrees out of phase

5. Wave plate Optical device : a birefringent crystal with a chosen thickness Light polarized along the extraordinary/fast axis propagates faster than the ordinary/slow axis. Phase shift Δn : birefringence L : thickness of the crystal

6. Wave plate (cont.) half-wave plate : retards 180 degrees, rotates the polarization direction of linear polarized light quarter-wave plate : retards 90 degrees, changes linearly polarized light to circular.

7. Jones calculus Polarized light is represented by a Jones vector, and linear optical elements are represented by Jones matrices.

9. Example: A half-wave plate: A quarter-wave plate: