Polarization (waves)
Polarization (waves)
Polarization (pronounced: poh-lar-ih-zay-shun) is a property of waves that can oscillate with more than one orientation. In the context of electromagnetic waves, this refers to the direction of the electric field.
Etymology
The term "polarization" was first used in the context of light waves and comes from the Greek word "pole", which means "axis". The concept was later extended to other types of waves.
Types of Polarization
There are three types of polarization: linear, circular, and elliptical.
- Linear polarization occurs when the electric field of light is confined to a single plane along the direction of propagation.
- Circular polarization occurs when the electric field of the light wave is rotating in a circular motion.
- Elliptical polarization is a combination of linear and circular polarization. The electric field of the light wave traces out an ellipse.
Related Terms
- Wave propagation is any of the ways in which waves travel.
- Electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.
- Light waves are a type of electromagnetic wave.
- Electric field is a vector field that shows the direction that a positively charged particle will move when placed in the field.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Polarization (waves)
- Wikipedia's article - Polarization (waves)
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