polarizácii

Polarizácia, in physics, refers to a property of transverse waves, such as electromagnetic waves like light, that describes the orientation of the oscillations of the wave. For a transverse wave, the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Polarization specifies the geometric orientation of these oscillations.

Light waves are electromagnetic waves and are inherently polarized. Unpolarized light, such as that from the sun or a typical light bulb, consists of waves oscillating in all possible directions perpendicular to the direction of travel. When light is polarized, the oscillations are confined to a specific plane or pattern.

Linear polarization is the most common type, where the electric field (and consequently the magnetic field) oscillates along a single straight line. This can be achieved through various means, including passing light through a polarizing filter, reflection off a non-metallic surface, or scattering.

Other forms of polarization include circular polarization and elliptical polarization, where the electric field vector rotates as the wave propagates, tracing out a circle or an ellipse, respectively. These arise from the superposition of two linearly polarized waves with a specific phase difference and orientation.

Polarization has numerous practical applications, including in sunglasses to reduce glare, LCD screens for displays, 3D movie glasses, and in scientific instruments for analyzing materials and studying light-matter interactions. The phenomenon is fundamental to understanding the behavior of light and other transverse waves.