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==In quantum mechanics==
{{further|Photon polarization}}
In the [[quantum mechanical]] view, light is composed of [[photons]]. Polarization is a manifestation of the [[spin angular momentum of light]]. More specifically, in quantum mechanics, the direction of spin of a photon is tied to the handedness of the circularly polarized light, and the spin of a beam of photons is similar to the spin of a beam of particles, such as electrons.<ref>Introduction to Quantum Theory 2ED David Park Sec 2.2 Pg32 "... the polarization of a beam of light is exactly the same kind of thing as the spin of a beam of electrons, the differences of terminology reflecting only the accidents of the historical order of discovery."</ref> In the [[physics]] convention (from the point of view of the source), a right-handed circular polarization corresponds to a positive spin (denoted <math>\sigma^+</math>), whereas a left-handed circular polarization corresponds to a negative spin (denoted <math>\sigma^-</math>).<ref>W. Demtröder, [https://emineter.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/atoms-molecules-and-photons-demtrc3b6der-springer-2005.pdf "Atoms, molecules and photons"], 2006, Springer, sec. 3.1, p. 91. The author uses the optics convention. "If left circularly-
polarized light (σ+-polarization) propagating in the z
direction is absorbed by atoms, the z component of
their angular momentum Jz is changed by ∆Jz = +ℏ". </ref>
==In nature==
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