Study of the orientation of the electric field vectors of light waves.
Electromagnetic Waves: An introduction to the nature of electromagnetic waves and their behavior. This topic includes principles such as wave-particle duality, propagation, and the properties of waves.
Polarization Overview: A basic definition and explanation of polarization, including types of polarization, the effect of polarization on light, and how polarization is created.
Light Propagation: An overview of how light travels through different media, including reflection, refraction, and total internal reflection. This topic helps explain the phenomenon of polarized light.
Polarizers: An overview of polarizers, including types such as linear and circular polarizers, how they work, and their applications.
Malus' Law: A fundamental law governing the behavior of polarized light when it passes through a polarizer. This law helps in understanding polarization and its applications.
Stokes Parameters: A mathematical description of polarization, which involves the use of Stokes parameters, helps in understanding polarization and in controlling polarization.
Polarization in Communication: The role of polarization in communication systems, such as wireless networks, fiber optic transmission, and satellite communication.
Polarization in Imaging: The use of polarization in imaging systems, such as polarized microscopy, polarimetry, and polarized imaging.
Applications of Polarization: Examples of various applications of polarization, such as in 3D movie technology, glare reduction, and polarization filters in cameras.
Polarization in Nature: How polarization occurs naturally in the environment, such as in the behavior of insects and the polarization of light in the atmosphere.
Linear Polarization: It occurs when the oscillations of an electromagnetic wave are confined to a single plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
Circular Polarization: It is a type of electromagnetic wave polarization where the electric field vector rotates in a circular motion perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
Elliptical Polarization: It is a type of electromagnetic wave polarization where the electric field vector rotates in an elliptical motion perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
Plane of Polarization: It refers to the plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation in which the electric field vector oscillates.
Cross-polarization: It occurs when the electric field vector of an electromagnetic wave is perpendicular to the plane of polarization of another wave.
Circular Dichroism: It is a type of optical phenomenon where the absorption of left- and right-handed circularly polarized light differs.
Optical activity: It is a type of optical phenomenon where a material rotates the plane of polarization of linearly polarized light.
Birefringence: It is a property of an optically anisotropic material where the refractive index depends on the polarization and propagation direction of light.
Brewster's Angle: It is the angle of incidence at which light reflecting off a surface becomes completely polarized.
Polarizer: It is a device that selectively filters out light of a certain polarization, allowing only light of a specific polarization to pass through.
Polariscopy: It is a technique used in optics to determine the polarization state of light.