title: A complete characterization of pre-Mueller and Mueller matrices in polarization optics.
abstract: The Mueller-Stokes formalism that governs conventional polarization optics is formulated for plane waves, and thus the only qualification one could require of a 4 x 4 real matrix M in order that it qualify to be the Mueller matrix of some physical system would be that M map Omega((pol)), the positive solid light cone of Stokes vectors, into itself. In view of growing current interest in the characterization of partially coherent partially polarized electromagnetic beams, there is a need to extend this formalism to such beams wherein the polarization and spatial dependence are generically inseparably intertwined. This inseparability brings in additional constraints that a pre-Mueller matrix M mapping Omega((pol)) into itself needs to meet in order to be an acceptable physical Mueller matrix. These additional constraints are motivated and fully characterized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Mechanics, IIT Madras, Chennai 600 036, India.
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mukunda
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santarsiero
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simon