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Clarified handedness in first figure, Image:Circular.Polarization.Circularly.Polarized.Light Left.Hand.Animation, in the context of the point of view (source/receiver) |
Corrected error with respect to the field spatial vs. temporal rotation |
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=== From the point of view of the source ===
Using this convention, polarization is defined from the point of view of the source. When using this convention, left- or right-handedness is determined by pointing one's left or right thumb {{em|away}} from the source, in the {{em|same}} direction that the wave is propagating, and matching the curling of one's fingers to the direction of the temporal rotation of the field at a given point in space. When determining if the wave is clockwise or anti-clockwise circularly polarized, one again takes the point of view of the source, and while looking {{em|away}} from the source and in the {{em|same}} direction of the wave's propagation, one observes the direction of the field's
Using this convention, the electric field vector of a left-handed circularly polarized wave is as follows:
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