Analysis of Nonlinear Phase Accumulation from Transformations of the Polarization States of Light in Connection to Quantum Information

Authors

Raisa Tasnim RaofaFollow

Abstract

We investigate the extent to which information about the evolution of the polarization state of light may be extracted through a Sagnac dual-path interferometer. We employ a birefringent crystal to change the polarization state of the reference beam. We then model the observable output intensity of the recombined beam. We show how the output intensity contains information about a geometric phase shift that depends on the path of the polarization state evolution on the Poincare sphere. The nonlinear phase accumulation we detect shows no qualitative or quantitative similarities with our theoretical framework. In order to account for the source of this discrepancy, we conclude a better understanding of the optical pieces of equipment used in the experiment is required.

Advisor

Leary, Cody

Second Advisor

Bush, Michael

Department

Mathematics; Physics

Recommended Citation

Raofa, Raisa Tasnim, "Analysis of Nonlinear Phase Accumulation from Transformations of the Polarization States of Light in Connection to Quantum Information" (2023). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 10487.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/10487

Disciplines

Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics | Optics | Other Mathematics | Probability | Quantum Physics

Keywords

Optics, Geometric Phase, Information Theory, Classical Shannon Entropy, Quantum Shannon Entropy, Quantum Information

Publication Date

2023

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis