Linear polarization

Linear polarization is an electromagnetic-wave state in which the electric field oscillates along a fixed direction perpendicular to propagation. Its orientation is defined by that direction, while the magnetic field oscillates perpendicular to both.

Polarization ellipse: A geometric description of the electric-field endpoint traced over time in a fully polarized electromagnetic wave. Linear polarization is the special case in which this ellipse collapses to a straight line.
Electromagnetic wave: A propagating disturbance of electric and magnetic fields that transports energy and momentum. Linear polarization describes the orientation of one field in this broader class of waves.
LCD: A display technology that controls light transmission by electrically changing liquid crystals between polarizers. Its pixels use polarization changes to regulate brightness.
Young's interference experiment: An experiment in which coherent waves from two slits form an interference pattern. Polarization alignment determines whether the two beams can interfere.
Jones calculus: A matrix method for describing fully polarized light with complex electric-field amplitudes. Its two-component vectors encode linear polarization and predict changes through optical elements.
Electric field: A physical field that exerts force on electric charges. Its oscillation direction defines the orientation of linear polarization.
Polarized sunglasses: Eyewear with polarizing filters that suppress light polarized along a selected direction. Their fixed transmission axis reduces glare from reflective surfaces.
Glan–Taylor prism: A birefringent prism that transmits one linear polarization while directing the orthogonal component away. It is a practical optical component for producing strongly linearly polarized beams.
Malus's law: The law that transmitted light intensity through an ideal analyzer varies as the squared cosine of the angle between polarization directions. It quantifies how a linear analyzer transmits or rejects a linearly polarized wave.
Transverse wave: A wave whose oscillations are perpendicular to its direction of propagation. Electromagnetic waves in free space are transverse, allowing a field direction to define polarization.

Linked from 14 pages