<title>Polarization models for Monte Carlo ray tracing</title>

Abstract

In many optical systems, the polarization state of light is of critical importance and must be considered during their design. In other systems, the polarization state is used and manipulated as an integral part of the design. Three methods exist for modeling the polarization state of light: the Mueller calculus; the Jones calculus; and the polarization ray tracing calculus. The relative advances of these methods for simulating the polarization behavior of real devices using Monte Carlo ray tracing software is discussed, including simulation of the polarization properties of scattered light.