Polarization

Polarization is the orientation pattern of a transverse wave’s oscillations. In light, it describes the direction and pattern of the electric field perpendicular to the direction of propagation.

Linear polarization: A polarization state in which a wave’s transverse oscillations remain along one fixed direction. It is the simplest state: the electric field stays on a fixed line as light propagates.
Malus's law: A relation giving transmitted intensity through an ideal analyzer as a function of the angle between its axis and linear polarization. It quantifies how rotating an analyzer changes measured brightness.
Electromagnetic wave: A propagating disturbance of electric and magnetic fields that carries energy through space or matter. Light is an electromagnetic wave whose transverse electric field defines its polarization.
Brewster's angle: The incidence angle at which reflected light from a dielectric surface is completely linearly polarized. Reflection near this angle demonstrates that interfaces select polarization differently.
Circular polarization: A polarization state in which the transverse field rotates at constant magnitude, tracing a circle over time. It results when perpendicular field components have equal amplitudes and a quarter-cycle phase difference.
Birefringence: The dependence of a material’s refractive index on light polarization and propagation direction. It causes different polarization components to travel at different speeds.
Transverse wave: A wave in which oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Polarization describes the orientation of these transverse oscillations.
Rayleigh scattering: The scattering of light by particles much smaller than its wavelength. Its angular pattern produces strongly polarized skylight away from the Sun.
Elliptical polarization: A polarization state in which the transverse field traces an ellipse over time. It is the general case when perpendicular components have unequal amplitudes or other phase differences.
Liquid-crystal display: A display that controls light transmission using electrically reoriented liquid crystals and polarizing layers. Its pixels use polarization changes to regulate transmitted light.

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