TMpolarized

TMpolarized refers to the transverse magnetic (TM) polarization of electromagnetic waves. In a wave propagating along a chosen axis, TM denotes a mode in which the magnetic field is entirely transverse to the direction of propagation, while the electric field has a nonzero component along the propagation direction. For a wave moving in the z direction, this means Hz is zero and Ez is nonzero. TM polarization is one of the standard mode classifications used in guided-wave theory and optics.

TM modes arise in a variety of structures, including hollow metallic waveguides, planar and cylindrical waveguides, and optical fibers. Each geometry supports a discrete set of TM modes, often denoted TMmn, with a cutoff frequency determined by the structure’s dimensions and boundary conditions. TE modes, by contrast, have Ez equal to zero and Hz nonzero, forming the complementary family of guided modes.

In practical applications, TM polarization has notable implications. At metal–dielectric interfaces, the electric field component normal to the surface drives charge oscillations that enable surface plasmon polaritons, a phenomenon that does not occur for transverse-electric (TE) polarization. In photonic and microwave devices, TM and TE modes exhibit different dispersion relations and field distributions, which influence coupling, confinement, and loss characteristics.

Summary: TMpolarized describes waves or modes with a nonzero longitudinal electric field and zero longitudinal magnetic field, widely used to analyze guided propagation, interface phenomena, and polarization-dependent device behavior.