MAXWELL-SCHRODINGER EQUATION FOR POLARIZED-LIGHT AND EVOLUTION OF THESTOKES PARAMETERS

By starting with the Maxwell theory of electromagnetism, we study the change of polarization state of light transmitting through optically a nisotropic media. The basic idea is to reduce the Maxwell equation to the Schrodinger-like equation for two levels (or states) representing polarization. By using the quantum mechanical technique, the density m atrix, and path integral, the evolution of the Stokes parameters resul ts in the equation of motion fur a pseudospin representing a point on the Poincare sphere. Two typical examples relevant to actual experimen ts are considered; the one gives the generalized Faraday effect, and t he other realizes an optical analog of magnetic resonance.