title: Definitions of the degree of polarization of a light beam.
abstract: A necessary and sufficient condition is derived for certain ad hoc expressions that are frequently used in the literature to represent correctly the degree of polarization of a light beam.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Qasimi
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Korotkova
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wolf