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Linear Polarization




In Electrodynamics , linear polarization or '''plane polarization''' of Electromagnetic Radiation is a confinement of the Electric Field vector or Magnetic Field vector to a given plane along the direction of propagation. See Polarization for more information.

Historically, the orientation of a polarized electromagnetic wave has been defined in the optical regime by the orientation of the electric vector, and in the Radio regime, by the orientation of the magnetic vector.


MATHEMATICAL DESCRIPTION OF LINEAR POLARIZATION

The Classical Sinusoidal plane wave solution of the Electromagnetic Wave Equation for the Electric and Magnetic fields is (cgs units)






This represents a wave polarized at an angle heta with respect to the x axis. In that case the Jones vector can be written





  :<math> \psi Angle \cos heta \exp \left ( i \alpha ight ) x angle + \sin heta \exp \left ( i \alpha ight ) y angle = \psi_x x angle + \psi_y y angle </math>