Polarized light in anisotropic medium versus a spin in a magnetic field

Abstract

The analogy between polarization optics effects and the dynamics of a spin in a magnetic field is analyzed based on the fact that the Bloch equation for a spin in a magnetic field is formally identical to the evolution equation for the quasi-spin vector of a light wave in an optically anisotropic medium. Among the effects discussed within this framework are light polarization beats in a birefringent medium; optical activity suppression in linearly birefringent media; suppression of linear birefringence in gyration modulated media; 'adiabatic' transformation of light polarization in media of smoothly varying anisotropy; and two- and three-pulse polarization echoes. While the last-named effect has not, to the authors' knowledge, been mentioned in the literature, it can be of practical interest for fiber-optics communication and optical information processing technologies.