lightvector

Lightvector is a term used in some contexts to describe a vector-based representation of light. It is not a standardized concept with a single formal definition in physics, but rather a descriptive or computational construct that can refer to different types of light-related vectors depending on the context.

In physics and optics, a lightvector may be used informally to denote a vector that encapsulates light’s instantaneous properties at a point, such as the electric and magnetic field components (E and B) or the direction of energy flow described by the Poynting vector S. While the precise physical meaning is given by established quantities like E, B, or S, “lightvector” can serve as a shorthand to discuss the combined directional or polarizational aspects of the field in a compact way.

In computer graphics, photonics, and related simulations, a lightvector often appears as a data structure that carries light’s direction, intensity, and sometimes color and polarization. For example, a lightvector may include a direction vector, a color vector (RGB), and, in more advanced models, polarization descriptors such as Stokes parameters or a Jones vector. In these settings, lightvector is a practical abstraction rather than a fundamental physical object.

Related concepts include polarization (Jones and Stokes formalisms), the Poynting vector, ray optics, and light transport. The term “lightvector” should be understood as a flexible, context-dependent label rather than a canonical scientific term.