1. Polarization Linearly polarized light animation Plane wave
Polarization determined by
Linearly polarized light
Condition on phase of Ey vs Ex for linear pol:

2. Jones Vector General Jones vector: often normalized
usually ignore overall phase and keep relative phase of components:
linearly pol light:

3. Circularly polarized light
Condition on Ey vs Ex phase for R,L-Circ light:
Condition on amplitudes for for R,L-Circ light:
Jones vectors

4. Circular rotation of E Right-circular light
Freeze wave in time. If walk along the wave in either direction, I will see E rotating like my fingers curl, if RH light. (E is like threads on a common screw)
The light in the figure is a) RH b) LH

5. The light in the animation is a) RH b) LH
Another description:
I’m looking at a light on a screen (at the front of the screen), E rotates CCW for R-circ light
The light in the animation is a) RH b) LH

6. Elliptically polarized light

7. Elliptically polarized light
How do you get light with an E-vector that traces the ellipse in the diagram?
Ey < Ex and p/2 phase shift
Ey > Ex and p/2 phase shift
Ey = Ex and 0 phase shift
Ey = Ex and p/2 phase shift
How to get ellipse axes not aligned with x,y?
Ey ≠ Ex and 0 phase shift
Ey > Ex and p/2 phase shift
Ey = Ex and phase not 0, p/2, p, 3p/2…
Ex ≠ Ey and phase not 0, p/2, p, 3p/2…
c and d a

8. Summary: conditions to get a noncircular ellipse
Whenever relative phase is ±p/2 and |Ex| ≠ |Ey|
Whenever phase is not mp/2, and |Ex|, |Ey| are arbitrary

9. What kind of polarization is this?
linear
R-circ
L-circ
R-ellip
L-ellip

10. What kind of polarization is this?
linear
R-circ
L-circ
R-ellip
L-ellip

11. What kind of polarization is this?
linear
R-circ
L-circ
R-ellip
L-ellip

12. Elliptically polarized light math
General case
angle of ellipse axis closest to x-axis
Find both of these to see which ellipse axis is the major (longest) one:

13. Sky seen through polarizer
Bees have polarized eyes for navigation

14. Why scattered sunlight is partially polarized
You stand facing the air molecules at a 90 deg scattering angle
From what we know about radiation vs acceleration line, the strongest polarization you see is a) horizontal b)vertical c) neither

15. Why sunlight (scattered light) is partially polarized
To get the most polarization difference, look at the molecules that have to scatter light 90 degrees to get to you
Why: dipole radiation’s angular dependence!

16. Sunset carousel demo and polarization
LCD screen teardown

17. Boomerang Nebula coldest known distant region: 1K
Color indicates angle of polarization axis, polarization caused by scattering of light off tiny dust particles