Differentiation of globally unpolarized complex random fields.

Abstract

Different types of random vector fields can be depolarized in a global sense. They can be physically discriminated by probing the statistical invariance when they are subject to operations such as a change of the reference frame or the introduction of an arbitrary retardance. With use of the observable polarization sphere as a visualization tool, a set of measurements is capable of discriminating between certain types of globally depolarized light, and we discuss the geometric interpretation of the physical invariances.