# Elliptical polarization

Elliptical polarization

In electrodynamics, elliptical polarization is the polarization of electromagnetic radiation such that the tip of the electric field vector describes an ellipse in any fixed plane intersecting, and normal to, the direction of propagation. An elliptically polarized wave may be resolved into two linearly polarized waves in phase quadrature, with their polarization planes at right angles to each other. Since the electric field can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise as it propagates, elliptically polarized waves exhibit chirality.

Other forms of polarization, such as circular and linear polarization, can be considered to be special cases of elliptical polarization.

Mathematical description of elliptical polarization

The classical sinusoidal plane wave solution of the electromagnetic wave equation for the electric and magnetic fields is (cgs units) :$mathbf\left\{E\right\} \left( mathbf\left\{r\right\} , t \right) = mid mathbf\left\{E\right\} mid mathrm\left\{Re\right\} left \left\{ |psi angle exp left \left[ i left \left( kz-omega t ight \right) ight \right] ight \right\}$

:$mathbf\left\{B\right\} \left( mathbf\left\{r\right\} , t \right) = hat \left\{ mathbf\left\{z\right\} \right\} imes mathbf\left\{E\right\} \left( mathbf\left\{r\right\} , t \right)$

for the magnetic field, where k is the wavenumber,

:$omega_\left\{ \right\}^\left\{ \right\} = c k$

is the angular frequency of the wave, and $c$ is the speed of light.

Here

:$mid mathbf\left\{E\right\} mid$

is the amplitude of the field and

:

is the Jones vector in the x-y plane. Here $heta$ is an angle that determines the tilt of the ellipse and $alpha_x - alpha_y$ determines the aspect ratio of the ellipse. If $alpha_x$ and $alpha_y$ are equal the wave is linearly polarized. If they differ by $pi/2,$ they are circularly polarized.

ee also

*Polarization of classical electromagnetic waves

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

### Look at other dictionaries:

• elliptical polarization — elipsinė poliarizacija statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. elliptic polarization; elliptical polarization vok. elliptische Polarisation, f rus. поляризация по эллипсу, f; эллиптическая поляризация, f pranc. polarisation elliptique, f …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

• elliptical polarization — noun see polarization * * * Physics. polarization of an electromagnetic wave in which the vector representing the instantaneous intensity of the electric field describes an elliptical helix in the direction of propagation. Cf. circular… …   Useful english dictionary

• elliptical polarization — Physics. polarization of an electromagnetic wave in which the vector representing the instantaneous intensity of the electric field describes an elliptical helix in the direction of propagation. Cf. circular polarization. * * * …   Universalium

• Polarization — ( Brit. polarisation) is a property of waves that describes the orientation of their oscillations. For transverse waves, it describes the orientation of the oscillations in the plane perpendicular to the wave s direction of travel. Longitudinal… …   Wikipedia

• Polarization — Po lar*i*za tion, n. [Cf. F. polarisation.] [1913 Webster] 1. The act of polarizing; the state of being polarized, or of having polarity. [1913 Webster] 2. (Opt.) A peculiar affection or condition of the rays of light or heat, in consequence of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• polarization — /poh leuhr euh zay sheuhn/, n. 1. a sharp division, as of a population or group, into opposing factions. 2. Optics. a state, or the production of a state, in which rays of light or similar radiation exhibit different properties in different… …   Universalium

• Polarization mode dispersion — (PMD) is a form of modal dispersion where two different polarizations of light in a waveguide, which normally travel at the same speed, travel at different speeds due to random imperfections and asymmetries, causing random spreading of optical… …   Wikipedia

• Elliptical — Elliptic El*lip tic, Elliptical El*lip tic*al, a. [Gr. ?: cf. F. elliptique. See {Ellipsis}.] 1. Of or pertaining to an ellipse; having the form of an ellipse; oblong, with rounded ends. [1913 Webster] The planets move in elliptic orbits. Cheyne …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• Photon polarization — is the quantum mechanical description of the classical polarized sinusoidal plane electromagnetic wave. Individual photons are completely polarized. Their polarization state can be linear or circular, or it can be elliptical, which is anywhere in …   Wikipedia

• Circular polarization — The electric field vectors of a traveling circularly polarized electromagnetic wave. In electrodynamics, circular polarization[1] of an electromagnetic wave is a polarization in which the electric field of the passing wave does not change… …   Wikipedia