Abstract
A complete single-point statistical description of a narrow-band partially polarized optical field is developed in terms of the 2D period-averaged probability density function (PA-PDF) of the electrical field vector. This statistic can be measured using the coherent (heterodyne) detection. PA-PDF carries more information about the partially polarized light than the traditional Stokes vector. For a simple Gaussian partially polarized field the PA-PDF depends on 13 real parameters in contrast to the four parameters of the Stokes vector or coherence tensor. We show on several examples that the polarization state of the wave, as described by PA-PDF can vary significantly even while Stokes vector remains fixed.
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