Quantum mechanical 4-dimensional non-polarizing beamsplitter

Abstract

The effects of a beamsplitter are frequently described mathematically as a matrix acting on a two input ports vector. This might be comprehensive for a scalar field but certainly insufficient in case of photons which are vector fields. In this paper we discuss theoretical grounds to define elements of a 4x4 matrix to more accurately represent the beamsplitter, fully accounting for transverse polarization modes. We also provide experimental evidence confirming this matrix representation. From an educational point of view the paper addresses a new applicability of Hilbert space description of vector fields which may be used in a classical context such as the Fresnel formalism for reflection and transmission coefficients at a dielectric interface. That the formalism can be readily verified with a simple experiment provides further benefit. The beamsplitter expression derived can also be applied in the field of quantum computing.