Quantum Mechanics I.

3 February, 2014

Assignment 1: Solution

1. Prove that if a right-circularly polarized beam of light passes through a half-wave plate,
the outgoing beam becomes left-circularly polarized, independent of the orientation of
the fast axis of the wave plate.
Answer
The transforming matrix (also called a Jones matrix) for a half-wave plate whose fast
axis makes an angle θ w.r.t horizontal, is given by
 
cos 2θ sin 2θ
THW P =  .
sin 2θ − cos 2θ

This matrix can be derived by the knowledge that if the fast axis is horizontal, the
matrix is
 
1 0
 .
0 −1
⟩ ⟩ ⟩
See its effect on the states |H and |V . Then predict the effects on the states |θ and
⟩
|θ + π/2 . We have done similar calculations in class. For a right-circularly polarized
⟩
beam |R incident on a half-wave plate, the outgoing beam becomes
  
⟩ 1 cos 2θ sin 2θ 1
THW P |R = √   
2 sin 2θ − cos 2θ −i
 
1 cos 2θ − i sin 2θ
= √  
2 sin 2θ + i cos 2θ
 
1 cos 2θ − i sin 2θ
= √   ∵ i2 = −1
2 i(cos 2θ − i sin 2θ)
 
−i2θ
1 e
= √  
2 ie−i2θ
 
1 1 ⟩
= √ e−i2θ   = e−i2θ |L ,
2 i

where e−i2θ is global phase and physically immaterial. This shows that for a right-
circularly polarized beam of light passing through a half-wave plate, the outgoing beam
becomes left-circularly polarized. The output is independent of the orientation.

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Quantum Mechanics I. 3 February, 2014

2. (a) Compute the transforming matrix (also called a Jones matrix) for a combination
of elements comprising a quarter-wave plate whose fast axis makes an angle of +45◦
from the horizontal, followed by a horizontal polarizer, followed by a quarter-wave
plate whose fast axis makes an angle of −45◦ from the horizontal.
(b) If right-circularly polarized wave is incident on this combination, what will be the
output polarization of the transmitted beam? Clearly show your working.
Answer
(a) A beam of input photons passes first through a quarter-wave plate whose fast axis
makes an angle of +45◦ from the horizontal, followed by a horizontal polarizer which
is followed by a quarter-wave plate whose fast axis makes an angle of −45◦ from the
horizontal, as shown in Figure 1.

Polarizer

45 o transmission axis
ψin -45
o

Quarter wave plate fast axis at +45o Quarter wave plate fast axis at -45o

Fig. (1)

Jones matrices for a quarter-wave plate whose fast axis makes an angle of +45◦ , a
horizontal polarizer and a quarter-wave plate whose fast axis makes an angle of −45◦
are respectively given by
 
1 1 −i
T+45 = √   (1)
2 −i 1
 
1 0
TH =   (2)
0 0

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Quantum Mechanics I. 3 February, 2014

 
1 1 i
T−45 = √   (3)
2 i 1

and the transforming matrix for this combination of elements can be computed as
   
( )2
1 1 i 1 0 1 −i
T−45 TH T+45 = √    
2 i 1 0 0 −i 1
  
1 1 i   1 −i 
= 
2 i 1 0 0
 
1 1 −i 
=  .
2 i 1

The matrices in Eqs (1),(2) and (3) can be derived or picked up from table 2.2, p.34
(b) For a right-circularly polarized incident beam on this combination, the output
polarization is given by
 
⟩ 1 1 −i ⟩
T−45 TH T+45 |R =   |R
2 i 1

  
1 1 −i 1
= √   
2 2 i 1 −i
 
1 1−1
= √   = 0,
2 2 i−i

so all the photons are blocked.

⟩
3. Suppose |θ represents the state of a beam of photons linearly polarized at an angle
of θ from the horizontal.
⟩ ⟩ ⟩
(a) Write |θ as a linear combination of |H and |V .
⟩
(b) What is the probability that a photon in the state |θ , will be measured to have
vertical polarization?
⟩
(c) What is the probability that a photon in the state |θ , will be measured to have
linear polarization along +45◦ ?
⟩
(d) What is the probability that a photon in the state |θ , will be measured to have
right-circular polarization?

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Quantum Mechanics I. 3 February, 2014

⟩
(e) If a beam of photons in state |V is sent through a series of two polarization beam
splitters (polarization analyzers), as illustrated in Fig. (2), then

V θ V
H
o
PA θ θ+90 PA HV
Fig. (2)

(i) What fraction of the input photons will survive to the final output?
(ii) At what angle θ must the PAθ be oriented so as to maximize the number of photons
that are transmitted by the PAHV ? What fraction of the photons are transmitted for
this particular value of θ?
(iii) What fraction of the photons are transmitted if the PAθ is simply removed from
the experiment?
Answer
⟩ ⟩
(a) A linear polarization state |θ can be expressed as a linear combination of |H and
⟩
|V :
⟩ ⟩ ⟩
|θ = cos θ|H + sin θ|V ,

where cos θ and sin θ are the probability amplitude of the basis states.
⟩
(b) To find the probability for the state |θ to have vertical polarization, first find
⟩ ⟩
the probability amplitude (an overlap between |V and |θ ) expressed as the inner
product
( )
⟨ ⟩ ⟨ ⟩ ⟩
V |θ = V | cos θ|H + sin θ|V
⟨ ⟩ ⟨ ⟩
= cos θ V |H + sin θ V |V

= sin θ,
⟨ ⟩ ⟨ ⟩
since V |H = 0 and V |V = 1.
⟩ ⟩
The probability of measuring |V given the state |θ is
(  )
 ⟩ ⟨ ⟩2
P V |θ =  V |θ  = sin2 θ.

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Quantum Mechanics I. 3 February, 2014

(c) Using the same arguments as provided above,

⟨  ⟩ ⟨ ( ⟩ ⟩)
+45◦ θ = +45◦ | cos θ|H + sin θ|V .

With,
⟩ 1 ( ⟩ ⟩)
| + 45◦ = √ |H +|V ,
2
we obtain
( )( )
⟨  ⟩
◦ 1 (⟨ ⟨ ) ⟩ ⟩
+45 θ = √ H| + V | cos θ|H + sin θ|V
2
( )
1 ⟨ ⟩ ⟨ ⟩ ⟨ ⟩ ⟨ ⟩
= √ cos θ H|H + sin θ V |V ∵ H|V = 0 = V |H
2
1 ( )
= √ cos θ + sin θ ,
2
⟩
so the probability of being in | + 45◦ becomes
(  )
 ⟩
◦
⟨ ⟩2
P +45 |θ =  +45◦ |θ 
1
(cos θ + sin θ)2
=
2
1
= (cos2 θ + sin2 θ + 2 cos θ sin θ)
2
1 1
= (1 + 2 cos θ sin θ) = (1 + sin 2θ).
2 2
⟩
(d) The right-circular polarization state |R can be expressed as
⟩ 1 ( ⟩ ⟩)
|R = √ |H −i|V .
2
⟩
The probability amplitude for the state |θ to have right-circular polarization can be
found as
( )( )
⟨ ⟩ 1 (⟨ ⟨ ) ⟩ ⟩
R|θ = √ H| + i V | cos θ|H + sin θ|V
2
( )
1 ⟨ ⟩ ⟨ ⟩
= √ cos θ H|H +i sin θ V |V (other terms are zero)
2
1 ( )
= √ cos θ + i sin θ
2
iθ
e
= √ ·
2

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Quantum Mechanics I. 3 February, 2014

⟩
Therefore, the probability of being in |R becomes
(  ) ( −iθ )( iθ )
 ⟩ ⟨ ⟩2 e e 1
 
P R|θ = R|θ = √  √ = ·
2 2 2

⟩ ⟩ ⟩
(e) The first PAθ directs the incident beam |V along two possibilities, |θ and |θ+90◦
⟩ ⟩ ⟩
and then PAHV directs the |θ photons into two possibilities |V and |H .
(i) To find the fraction of input photons survive to output, we need to find the proba-
⟩ ⟩
bility of |θ going through PAθ and probability that |θ can transmit through PAHV .
⟩ ⟩ ⟩
First we find |V as a superposition of |θ and |θ + 90◦ . It is known that
⟩ ⟩ ⟩
|θ = cos θ|H + sin θ|V (4)
⟩ ⟩ ⟩
|θ + 90◦ = cos(θ + 90◦ )|H + sin(θ + 90◦ )|V
⟩ ⟩
= − sin θ|H + cos θ|V . (5)

Multiply Eq(4) by sin θ and Eq(5) by cos θ and adding,

⟩ ⟩ ⟩
sin θ|θ = sin θ cos θ|H + sin2 θ|V
⟩ ⟩ ⟩
cos θ|θ + 90◦ = − cos θ sin θ|H + cos2 θ|V ,

so
⟩ ⟩ ⟩
|V = sin θ|θ + cos θ|θ + 90◦ .

Proceeding ahead,
⟨ ⟩ ( ⟨ ⟨ ) ⟩
V |θ = sin θ θ| + cos θ θ + 90◦ | |θ
= sin θ.
⟩
Fraction of photons after PAθ is sin2 θ. To find the fraction of |H photons after PAHV ,
we calculate,
⟨ ⟩ ⟨ ( ⟩ ⟩)
H|θ = H| cos θ|H + sin θ|V

= cos θ,
⟨ ⟩2
and  H|θ  = cos2 θ. Hence the fraction being transmitted is sin2 θ cos2 θ.
(ii) The number of photons Nphotons will be maximum when sin2 θ cos2 θ is maximum.
Now
1
sin2 θ cos2 θ = (sin 2θ)2 ,
4

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Quantum Mechanics I. 3 February, 2014

where sin 2θ is maximum for θ = π/4. Therefore, PAθ must be at (π/4) to maximize
the number of photons. This fraction is,
1
Nphotons = (sin 45 cos 45)2 = ·
4
(iii) If PAθ is simply removed as shown in Figure 3,

V
H
PA HV
Fig. (3)
⟩
then all photons are blocked because the probability of beam |V to pass through
⟨ ⟩2 ⟨ ⟩
PAHV vanishes,  H|V  = 0 since V |H = 0.
⟩
4. (a) A stream of photons entering the interferometer of Fig. (4) is in the state |V .
Would you expect to see interference? Write the transforming matrices and quantum
states at each step of the experiment.

N V
+45 o
V
H PA HV -45 o
PA HV
PA 45
Quarter wave plate fast axis at 45o
Fig. (4)

⟩
(b) If the input photons are in the left circularly polarized state |L , do you expect to
see quantum interference? Show your working.
Answer
(a) The transforming matrices can be computed as,
 
iγ
e 0
PA(HV )1 =   = TA
0 1
 
1 1 −i
QWPwith fast axis at 45◦ = √   = TB
2 −i 1
PA(HV )2 = = TA

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Quantum Mechanics I. 3 February, 2014

Now the quantum states at each step of this experiment can be find as follows.

After first beam splitter:

    
⟩ eiγ 00 0 ⟩
TA |V =     =   = |V
0 1 1 1
After quarter-wave plate:
      
0 1 1 −i 0 −i
TB   = √     = √1  
1 2 −i 1 1 2 1
After second beam splitter:
       
1 −i iγ
e 0 −i −ieiγ
TA √   =   √1   = √1  
2 1 0 1 2 1 2 1
1 ( ⟩ ⟩) ⟩
= √ −ieiγ |H +|V = |ψf .
2
⟩ ⟩
The last PA45 prepares two possibilities |45◦ and |−45◦ . We can find the probability
amplitudes:
⟨ ◦ ⟩ 1 (⟨ ⟨ ) 1 ( ⟩ ⟩)
45 |ψf = √ H| + V | · √ −ieiγ |H +|V
2 2
1( )
= −ieiγ + 1
2
⟨ ◦ ⟩2 ( ) ( )
 45 |ψf  = 1 ie−iγ + 1 · 1 −ieiγ + 1
2 2
1( )
= 1 + ie−iγ − ieiγ + 1
4 ( )
1( ) 1 2 γ
= 2 − i(2i sin γ) = (1 + sin γ) = sin .
4 2 2
⟨ ⟩2 ( ) ( )
Similarly one can show that  −45◦ |ψf  = 1 − sin2 γ2 = cos2 γ2 . The relative phase
⟩ ⟩ ⟩
difference between |H and |V in |ψf results in a phase dependent output.
(b) Using the same procedure of part (a), for the incident photons in let circularly
⟩
polarized state |L ;

After first beam splitter:

     
⟩ eiγ 0 1 e iγ
TA |L =   √1   = √1  
0 1 2 i 2 i
After quarter-wave plate:
      
( )2
1 eiγ
1 −i eiγ iγ
e +1
TB √   = √1   = 1 
2 i 2 −i 1 i 2 −ie + i
iγ

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Quantum Mechanics I. 3 February, 2014

After second beam splitter:

       
iγ iγ iγ 2iγ iγ
1 e +1 e 0 1 e +1 e +e
TA   =    = 1 
2 −ieiγ + i 0 1 2 −ieiγ + i 2 −ieiγ + i
( )
1 ⟩ ⟩ ⟩
= (e + e )|H +(−ie + i)|V = |ψf .
2iγ iγ iγ
2
⟩ ⟩
The last PA45 prepares two possibilities |45◦ and | − 45◦ . Using the same method
as we did in part in (a), the probability amplitudes can be find as:
( )
⟨ ◦ ⟩ 1 (⟨ ⟨ )1 ⟩ ⟩
45 |ψf = √ H| + V | · (e + e )|H +(−ie + i)|V
2iγ iγ iγ
2 2
1 ( )
= √ e2iγ + eiγ − ieiγ + i
2 2
( )2
⟨ ◦ ⟩2 1 ( −2iγ )( )
 45 |ψf  = √ e + e−iγ + ie−iγ − i e2iγ + eiγ − ieiγ + i
2 2
( )
1 ( e2iγ − e−2iγ )
= 4 − i(2i)
8 2i
1
= (2 + sin(2γ)).
4
⟨ ⟩2
Similarly, one can show that  −45◦ |ψf  = 14 (2 − sin(2γ)).

Due date: Feb. 12, 2014, 5:00pm 9