Photon as a particle and e-ray and o-ray

[galvin452]

Wiki in birefringence says, "light with linear polarizations parallel and perpendicular ... the component with polarization perpendicular to this axis will be refracted as per the standard law of refraction, while the complementary polarization component will refract at a nonstandard angle determined by the angle of entry and the birefringence. The light will therefore split into two linearly polarized beams, known as ordinary and extraordinary.

My understanding is that if I have a 45 degree linear polarized light (polarized photon particles?) I still end up with an o-ray photon and an e-ray photon.

But as a particle a photon can not be split so I would assume the 45 degree linear polarized photon would either rotate to the vertical or horizontal linear polarization.

Is this correct?

 

[Simon Bridge]

My understanding is that if I have a 45 degree linear polarized light (polarized photon particles?) I still end up with an o-ray photon and an e-ray photon.

But as a particle a photon can not be split so I would assume the 45 degree linear polarized photon would either rotate to the vertical or horizontal linear polarization.

Is this correct?

You are mixing up models that are not meant to be mixed.
The "ray" description is classical, the photon description is quantum mechanics.
The classical effect is an emergent behavior what happens on average.

 

[wotanub]

But as a particle a photon can not be split so I would assume the 45 degree linear polarized photon would either rotate to the vertical or horizontal linear polarization.

Is this correct?

A photon polarized at a 45 degree angle is in a superposition of being in of the 0 degree and 90 degree states. When it hits the polarizer, it will collapse it into one of the states, which each having 50% probability. So half of the photons will be ordinary and the other half will be extraordinary, recovering the classical expectations for the experiment.

 

[galvin452]

A photon polarized at a 45 degree angle is in a superposition of being in of the 0 degree and 90 degree states. When it hits the polarizer, it will collapse it into one of the states, which each having 50% probability. So half of the photons will be ordinary and the other half will be extraordinary, recovering the classical expectations for the experiment.

Thanks

 

[sardar]

Yes, your understanding is correct. As a particle, a photon cannot be split into two separate particles. However, when interacting with a birefringent material, the photon's polarization can be changed. In the case of a 45 degree linearly polarized photon, it will split into an o-ray and an e-ray, each with their own unique polarization angle. This is due to the birefringent material causing the light to refract at different angles for each polarization component. So while the photon itself remains unchanged, its polarization is altered by the birefringent material.