State of Light Polarization

This Demonstration allows you to visualize elliptical, linear, or circular state of light polarization. For a transverse electromagnetic wave propagating in the direction, any polarization state can be expressed in terms of linear polarizations along the and directions, which are transverse to the direction of propagation. To visualize a state of polarization, vary the or components of the electric field (i.e., polarization), and/or the phase difference between the two—that is, the phase of the component relative to the component. The direction of electric field rotation (for elliptical and circular polarization) is coded using the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum: red → yellow → green → blue → violet.