Operational approach in the weak-field measurement of polarization fluctuations

The operational approach to the measurement of phase studied by Nob, Fougeres, and Mandel [Phys. Rev. A 45, 424 (1992); 46, 2840 (1992); Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 2579 (1993); Phys. Rev. A 47, 4535 (1993)] is applied to the measurement of the state of polarization of fully polarized light. Operational counterparts of the quantum Stokes parameters are introduced and their fluctuations are examined. It is shown that if the polarized field is weak, the measured fluctuations are influenced not only by the quantum properties of the source field but also that of the measurement. This character is reflected on the measured probability distributions of the parameters of polarization, which are also investigated independently for the fully polarized coherent states and the Fock stares as the initial field strength is varied. Finally, connection between the operational approach to the measurement of polarization and the su(2) interferometry is examined. [S1050-2947(99)01402-X].