Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

polarization

Am i correct in thinking that the equation

e(z,t)=x15cos(wt+2pi.n.z/wavelength+pi/4)+y15cos(wt+2pi.n.z/wavelength-pi/4)

is and equation for left circular polarized light?

Thanks for any help

Reply 1

TableChair

It depends how you define it, i.e. which way you look along the z-axis.

its circular though?

smile!

its circular though?

The phase difference between x and y components is pi/2 so yes.

Edit: and they have the same amplitude

Reply 4

smile!

thanks!!

I have a question that if a quarter wave plate introduces an additional phase between y and x of

i) pi/2 what is the polarisation. For this i have put linear.??
ii.)-pi/2...then the would be -pi out of phase. i am not sure what this is

thanks for any help