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The term '''''plane of polarization''''' refers to the direction of [[polarization (waves)|polarization]] of [[linear polarization|linearly-polarized]] light or other [[electromagnetic radiation]]. Unfortunately the term is used with two contradictory meanings. As originally defined by [[Étienne-Louis Malus]] in 1811, the plane of polarization happened to coincide with the plane containing the direction of propagation and the ''magnetic'' vector; but this was not known at the time. In modern literature, the term ''plane of polarization'', if it is used at all, more often refers to the plane containing the direction of propagation and the ''electric'' vector, because the electric field has the greater propensity to interact with matter. That propensity, together with Malus's definition and [[Augustin-Jean Fresnel|Fresnel]]'s speculations on the [[luminiferous aether]], led early investigators to define the "plane of ''vibration''" as perpendicular to the plane of polarization and containing the direction of propagation.
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