Phase shift and circular polarization

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The phase difference between right and left circularly polarized light of the same amplitude is contingent on the specific light source and coordinate system used. Without additional context, such as the properties of the light source, it's challenging to provide a precise calculation. The discussion draws a parallel to measuring road length, emphasizing the need for more information. There is interest in finding a general method to track phase changes as light interacts with various optical components, akin to how Jones calculus tracks polarization changes. Understanding these relationships is crucial for applications in optics and photonics.
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What is the phase difference between the right circularly polarized and left circularly polarized light of the same amplitude? And how do you calculate it?
 
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That depends on your light source and your coordinate system.

Your question is similar to "how to calculate the length of a road?" without any additional information.
 
mfb said:
That depends on your light source and your coordinate system.

Your question is similar to "how to calculate the length of a road?" without any additional information.

Is there a more general way to track phase changes as the light passes through different optical components, just as Jones calculus allows you to track polarization changes?
 

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