title: Spatial characterization of general partially polarized beams.
abstract: The spatial characterization of light beams given in terms of intensity moments is extended to partially polarized beams by means of a generalization of the Stokes-Mueller formalism. A simple classification scheme of partially polarized fields is proposed, and laws of propagation through nonpolarizing and polarizing optical systems are provided. Some invariant parameters are also investigated.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martínez-Herrero
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mejías
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Movilla