A Quantum Mechanical Approach To The Polarization Transport of Photons

Abstract

Based on quantum mechanical approach the polarization transport of photons which propagate in a medium with slow varying refractive index is studied. The photon polarizations are separated in opposite directions normal to the ray which is called "Spin Hall effect" of photons, and also the rotation of polarization plane, a manifestation of the Berry phase, occurs. This approach can be generalized to other spinning particles in inhomogeneous media as a universal approach.