Operational approach in the weak-field measurement of polarization fluctuations

The operational approach to the measurement of phase studied by Nob, Fouger es, and Mandel [Phys. Rev. A 45, 424 (1992); 46, 2840 (1992); Phys. Rev. Le tt. 71, 2579 (1993); Phys. Rev. A 47, 4535 (1993)] is applied to the measur ement of the state of polarization of fully polarized light. Operational co unterparts of the quantum Stokes parameters are introduced and their fluctu ations are examined. It is shown that if the polarized field is weak, the m easured fluctuations are influenced not only by the quantum properties of t he source field but also that of the measurement. This character is reflect ed on the measured probability distributions of the parameters of polarizat ion, which are also investigated independently for the fully polarized cohe rent states and the Fock stares as the initial field strength is varied. Fi nally, connection between the operational approach to the measurement of po larization and the su(2) interferometry is examined. [S1050-2947(99)01402-X ].