Boundaries and Waves Tour
Circular Polarization A circularly polarized wave is one whose electric field varies in a circle. That is if you where to look directly at the oncoming wave the electric field vector would trace out a circle. A circularly polarized wave is represented in forms by twisting two forms (tubes). Like the linearly polarized wave the wave is represented by tubes where the energy of the wave flows. In a circularly polarized wave, however, the tubes twist so that they create a helix in space. The arrow and the yellow line are the vector representation of this wave. Notice that if you where to look directly at the oncoming wave the yellow helix would look like a circle. |