Linear Polarization Animation

Uniform plane wave traveling in +z direction. x and y components of the electric field are shown as traveling, the total electric field at z=zs is shown in green.

To watch linear, circular and elliptical polarization animation in a single shot, see the below video:

Also see below:
Oblique Plane Wave Reflection From Half Space

Radiation from a Circularly Tapered Dielectric Waveguide

Right Hand Circular Polarization (RHCP) Animation

Linear Polarization Animation

Left Hand Elliptical Polarization (LHEP) Animation

Standing Wave Pattern (SWR) Animation

Electromagnetic Propagation of UWB Short Pulse in Random Medium

[meyavuz]

For a plane wave, electric and magnetic field vectors are mutually perpendicular to themselves and the direction of propagation. So, if the electric component is linearly polarized, the magnetic field has to be that way too. Actually, there is no concept of electric field being polarized but the wave is polarized which consists of electric and magnetic fields. So, as a summarized response to your question, the wave is linearly polarized due to linearly oscillating E and H components.

[meyavuz]

These (blue and red) are just x & y components of a linearly polarized wave. Their vectoral summation is the resultant wave of which only a portion is shown as green on the x-y plane. Since the resulting wave (green) is oscillating along a linear line, it is linearly polarized.

[meyavuz]

​An EM wave ALWAYS has both electric and magnetic fields which are mutually perpendicular to each other and direction of propagation in the case of plane waves. But by convention, when polarization is discussed, only electric fields are only mentioned. So, for an EM wave, when it passes through ​a x-polarizer, the y- component of E field is filtered and only x-component of E continue to propagate. Since direction of propagation is z, there is also y-directed H field after the polarizer. +

[meyavuz]

+ Remember that without H field, there cannot be EM wave. The existence of H field creates the E field and vice versa. So even after a polarizer, we have both E and H components

[meyavuz]

Thanks. I was already thinking of a patch antenna animation. I can notify you once completed.

[meyavuz]

Electric field can have (let's say) both x and y components while traveling along the z-direction (as in this video). Depending on the polarizer type and functionality and orientation, electric field components in certain directions are eliminated not all components. For example, for an x polarizer, y component of E field is filtered and remaining x component continue to propagate. What you are describing is an absorber that deletes all components of E field hence no EM wave.

[meyavuz]

Hi. sure you can use it. But the original file was really huge (~1GB). You can try to search "download from youtube" in google to download the video yourself. It will be faster and smaller for you. Thanks

[JimBeymer]

I'm impressed with the animations. I'd like to see the surface wave response of a patch antenna. Now that would be cool.

[humanhb]

wow! best explanation i have ever got thanks a lot! so the magnetic field is not considered?

[humanhb]

i have been taught that light has E and H components.So a polariser would delete either component E or Component H?, , if so then polarised light cannot travel because it has only 1 component (because light needs 2 components to travel).. am i right @meyavuz

[meyavuz]

Yes, you are right. Check for elliptical polarization where the x & y components are similar to this case but phase shifted. But the resulting green curve is elliptically rotating which is the polarization of the wave. Same thing for circular polarization:

And finally this animation shows only the full waves (no x & y components are shown but the resultant full wave) :

I hope this makes it clearer

[unitedmunich]

thank you so much. i now have put the missing pieces together.

[unitedmunich]

Appreciate your help. so am i right to conclude that the green line is linearly polarised. and which is the linear line?

[JimBeymer]

This video is a bit misleading. What it shows are two orthogonal plane polarized electric fields traveling in phase. The resultant vector indicates what is to be expected...polarization is neither horizontal nor vertical, but rather is halfway between. If one of the fields were to be 90 degrees out of phase with the other, the vector would rotate. This video would have been more effective with a single E field depicted. See the confusion in the other comments. There is no H field depicted.

[meyavuz]

Thanks. In this video I wanted to focus on the relationship of the individual E field components and not the H field. If you check the video response section, you can see the 90 degree phase shift version you described as well. Also, in another video, I just illustrated the single E field vector Linear, Circular and Elliptical Polarization Animation in Single Shot). Let me know if you want a specific animation other than these and I can try to implement it.

[unitedmunich]

the two waves are polarized linearly? or is the resultant wave polarized?

[muchovej]

Hello-- I was wondering if I could use this video in a presentation about polarized light. Is there any way I could get the file for it? Thanks.

[unitedmunich]

Is an electromagnetic wave composed of electric and magnetic field linearly polarised? As far as I know polarisation is basically orientation or direction. I can't figure out what is linearly polarised?

[bilalshawky]

I would like to know how you did this?
Is this by MATLAB??❗❗❗❗

[tareqolimat]

nice, please give me code matlab
how draw?