Polarization Optics Analogy of Quantum Wavefunctions in Graphene

Detailed similarities between polarization states of light and ballistic charge carriers in graphene are derived. Based on these, the optical equivalent of quantum wavefunctions, Dirac equation, and the effect of an electrostatic potential are found, and the quantum analog of the refractive index of light and of the optical composition law of reflection coefficients are obtained. The differences between the behavior of quantum wavefunctions in graphene and electromagnetic fields, due to the chiral symmetry of ballistic charge carriers that cannot be mimicked in classical polarization optics, are also evidenced.