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Polarization
Summary
- The term polarization refers to the orientation
of the plane of the disturbance in a transverse wave.
- Light and all electromagnetic waves can be polarized.
- Sound and other
longitudinal
waves cannot be polarized.
- A transverse wave is said to have …
- no polarization or to be unpolarized if
its polarization changes quickly and randomly.
- linear polarization if its polarization
does not change; for example …
- vertical
- horizontal
- parallel
- perpendicular
- diagonal
- circular polarization if its polarization rotates.
- elliptical polarization if it has both
linear and circular polarization.
- Methods for tranforming unpolarized light into polarized light include …
- reflection from a dielectric surface
- scattering off the molecules in a fluid (or small particles suspended
in a fluid)
- transmission through a dichroic, crystalline solid
- transmission through a birefringent, crystalline solid
