Tag: Chandrasekhar

I have been teaching polarization of light in my optics class. In there, I introduced them to matrix representation of polarization states. One of the standard references that I use for explanation is a 1954 paper in American J. Physics, by McMaster titled: “Polarization and the Stokes Parameters.”

While skimming through the pdf of the journal paper, I found an excerpt from a 1954 book, which quotes Fresnel writing to Thomas Young:

Further, I knew from the past that S. Chandrasekhar (astrophysicist) had a role in rejuvenating Stokes vector formalism in radiative transfer. Below is his description from AIP oral history archives (May 1977):

” I started the sequence of papers, and almost at the time I started it, I read the paper by Wick in which he had used the method of discrete coordinates,* and I realized at once that that method can be used in a large scale way for solving all problems. So that went on. I have always said and felt that the five years in which I worked on radiative transfer [1944 – 49] is the happiest period of my scientific life. I started on it with no idea that one paper would lead to another, which would lead to another, which would lead to another and soon for some 24 papers — and the whole subject moved with its own momentum.” (emphasis added)

He further states how he rediscovered Stokes polarization vector formalism:

“All this had a momentum of it own. Then suddenly I realized one had to put polarization in; the problems of characterizing polarized light — my rediscovery of Stokes original paper, writing on Stokes parameters and calling them Stokes parameters for the first time“

Chandra further adds that the Stokes formalism was almost forgotten for 50 years, and he had a role in resurrecting it.

Next, there was some noise on social media where some one questioned the utility of matrix multiplication. For them, below is a wonderful review article by McMaster (again), to explore from polarization viewpoint, and realize the power of non-commutative matrix algebra:

Finally, the original paper by Stokes on his formalism, which is hard to find (thanks to paywall). But, classic papers are hard to suppress, and I found the full paper on internet archives.

Below is a snapshot:

Enjoy your random walk !