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Part of The Principle Of Superposition

Furthermore, we can suppose that an arbitrarily polarized photon may be regarded as being both in the parallel and perpendicular polarization state, which can be considered as a sort of superposition applied to the two states of polarization.

This implies a unique relationship between the states of polarization, which allows for any state of polarization to be resolved into, or expressed as a superposition of two mutually perpendicular states of polarization.

Furthermore, when we introduce the photon to crystal, we are subjecting it to the act of observation, about the nature of its polarization relative to the axis of the crystal: the effect of this observation is to force the photon entirely into one state of polarization, having made a jump there from a superposed state, though which of the two states it will choose, cannot be predicted, and is governed only by probability.

Referenced in

The Principle Of Superposition

An atomic system is comprised of particles (bodies with specific properties of Mass, Inertia), and subject to the laws governing forces acting upon objects. Each component of this system will have various possible motions it could take, and each motion is considered a state. Classically, one can describe this state via the coordinates of the system and the velocities of the components at some point in time, with the complete motion thus being determined.

The Principle Of Superposition