Linear polarization: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Linear polarization schematic.png|162px|thumb|right|Diagram of the electric field of a light wave (blue), linear-polarized along a plane (purple line), and consisting of two orthogonal, in-phase components (red and green waves)]]

In [[electrodynamics]], '''linear polarization''' or '''plane polarization''' of [[electromagnetic radiation]] is a confinement of the [[electric field]] vector or [[magnetic field]] vector to a given plane along the direction of propagation. The term ''linear polarization'' (French: ''polarisation rectiligne'') was coined by [[Augustin-Jean Fresnel]] in 1822.<ref name=fresnel-1822z>A. Fresnel, "Mémoire sur la double réfraction que les rayons lumineux éprouvent en traversant les aiguilles de cristal de roche suivant les directions parallèles à l'axe", read 9&nbsp;December 1822; printed in H.&nbsp;de Senarmont, E.&nbsp;Verdet, and L.&nbsp;Fresnel (eds.), ''Oeuvres complètes d'Augustin Fresnel'', vol.&nbsp;1 (1866), pp.{{nnbsp}}731–51; translated as "Memoir on the double refraction that light rays undergo in traversing the needles of quartz in the directions parallel to the axis", {{Zenodo|4745976}}, 2021 (open&nbsp;access); §9.</ref> See ''[[Polarization (waves)|polarization]]'' and ''[[plane of polarization]]'' for more information.

The orientation of a linearly polarized electromagnetic wave is defined by the direction of the [[electric field]] vector.<ref name="Shapira,">{{cite book