All Problems

Polarization of Light

Problem 5.178

What kind of polarization has a plane electromagnetic wave if the projections of the vector E\mathbf{E} on the xx and yy axes are perpendicular to the propagation direction and are defined by the following equations: (a) Ex=Ecos(ωtkz),Ey=Esin(ωtkz)E_{x}=E \cos (\omega t-k z), E_{y}=E \sin (\omega t-k z) (b) Ex=Ecos(ωtkz),Ey=Ecos(ωtkz+π/4)E_{x}=E \cos (\omega t-k z), E_{y}=E \cos (\omega t-k z+\pi / 4) (c) Ex=Ecos(ωtkz),Ey=Ecos(ωtkz+π)E_{x}=E \cos (\omega t-k z), E_{y}=E \cos (\omega t-k z+\pi)

Reveal Answer
5.178. For the right-handed system of coordinates: (1) circular anticlockwise polarization, when observed toward the incoming wave; (2) elliptical clockwise polarization, when observed toward the incoming wave; the major axis of the ellipse coincides with the straight line y=xy=x (3) plane polarization, along the straight line y=xy=-x.