Preferred Label : light polarization;
IUPAC definition : A light beam is said to be linearly polarized if the end-point of the electric vector
moves in a straight line when viewed along the direction of propagation of the beam.
If it moves along a circle the beam is circularly polarized and if it moves along
an ellipse the beam is elliptically polarized.;
Scope note : circular polarization is said to be right-handed if the direction of rotation is clockwise
when viewed against the direction of propagation and left-handed if the sense of the
rotation is opposite. when the position of the endpoint of the electric vector is
viewed at a given time t as a function of distance along x, it forms a left-handed
helix if the light polarization is left-handed and a right-handed helix is it is right-handed.;
Origin ID : L03524;
See also
A light beam is said to be linearly polarized if the end-point of the electric vector
moves in a straight line when viewed along the direction of propagation of the beam.
If it moves along a circle the beam is circularly polarized and if it moves along
an ellipse the beam is elliptically polarized.
