Concept information
Preferred term
polarization
Definition(s)
- Polarization is a condition in which electromagnetic waves are constrained to vibrate in a certain plane or planes. Electromagnetic waves consist of vibrating electric and magnetic fields, with the direction of vibration perpendicular to the direction of motion of the wave. If the direction of vibration remains steady with time, the wave is said to be 100% linearly polarized or plane polarized in that direction. If the direction of vibration rotates at the same frequency as the wave, the wave is said to be 100% circularly polarized. Most naturally occurring electromagnetic waves have a direction of vibration that jiggles around at random: these are said to be unpolarized. Intermediate states, where there is some jiggling around an average direction, are said to be partially polarized; the amount of order is specified by the degree of polarization, which ranges from 0 to 100%. Plane polarization is usually caused by scattering, and circular polarization by strong magnetic fields. (Encyclopedia of Science, by David Darling, https://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/P/polarization.html)
Broader concept(s)
Synonym(s)
- polarisation
- wave polarisation
- wave polarization
In other languages
-
French
URI
http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/MDL-SXHR06FL-8
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