Polarization

The polarization of a plane and monochromatic wave is the curve traced out by the tip of the instantaneous electric field vector at a fixed point in space as time evolves.

A real vector in ordinary three-dimensional Euclidean space is represented by an arrow. A complex vector, on the other hand, is – in the general case – represented by an oriented ellipse. In some special cases, however, that ellipse reduces either to a straight line segment or to a circle.

Example

Right-handed elliptical polarization

Polarization Problem

Numerical Examples