The dual wave–particle nature of light and the degree of polarization are fundamental concepts in quantum physics and optical science, but their exact relation has not been explored within a full vector-light quantum framework that accounts for interferometric polarization modulation. Here, we consider vector-light quantum complementarity in double-pinhole photon interference and derive a general link between the degree of polarization and wave–particle duality of light. The relation leads to an interpretation for the degree of polarization as a measure describing the complementarity strength between photon path predictability and so-called Stokes visibility, the latter taking into account both intensity and polarization variations in the observation plane. It also unifies results advanced in classical studies by showing that the degree of polarization can be viewed as the ability of a light beam to exhibit intensity and polarization-state fringes. The framework we establish thus provides novel aspects and deeper insights into the role of the degree of polarization in quantum-light complementarity and photon interference.

中文翻译：

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矢量-光量子互补性和极化度

光的双波粒子性质和偏振度是量子物理学和光学科学中的基本概念，但是在引起干涉偏振调制的完整矢量光量子框架中尚未探索它们的确切关系。在这里，我们考虑了双针孔光子干涉中的矢量光量子互补性，并得出了偏振度与光的波粒对偶性之间的一般联系。该关系导致对偏振度的解释，作为描述光子路径可预测性和所谓的斯托克斯可见度之间的互补强度的量度，后者考虑了观测平面中的强度和偏振变化。通过显示偏振度可以看作光束表现出强度和偏振态条纹的能力，它也统一了经典研究的先进结果。因此，我们建立的框架为偏振度在量子光互补性和光子干涉中的作用提供了新颖的方面和更深刻的见解。