circular polarization

noun

, Optics.

1. polarization in which the vector representing the instantaneous intensity of the electromagnetic field describes a circular helix in the direction of propagation.

circular polarization

noun

1. electromagnetic radiation (esp light) in which the electric field vector describes a circle about the direction of propagation at any point in the path of the radiation

Word History and Origins

Origin of circular polarization¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Then, Du and his collaborators worked with two laser beams, each with a different frequency, or color, and circular polarization, or direction of the laser's electric field.

From Science Daily

The survey looks at a large amount of sky for highly variable radio wave sources, and collects circular polarization, among other data.

From Scientific American

Although other telescopes are collecting polarization data, there have only been a few large-scale radio surveys using the circular polarization technique.

From Scientific American

Both phones also use circular polarization display technology, so that the screen is visible from any angle when viewing it with polarized sunglasses.

From The Verge

In particular, in the valley Hall effect, the two valleys are associated with photons of opposite circular polarization in the plane of the material.

From Nature