Write the Jones matrix for the following combinations of cascaded elements. a) A quarter-wave plate followed by an ideal polarizer (with an arbitrary rotation between the axes of the two elements). b)...

Write the Jones matrix for the following combinations of cascaded elements.

a) A quarter-wave plate followed by an ideal polarizer (with an arbitrary rotation between the axes of the two elements).

b) An ideal polarizer followed by a quarter-wave plate (again with an arbitrary rotation).

Show that, for a generic input state of polarization, the output states of the two combinations are not equal. Discuss the reason for this situation to occur.