History of Polarisation

	Revision 5 . . October 11, 2001 5:08 am by (logged).123.179.xxx [*modified link]
	Revision 4 . . October 5, 2001 1:43 am by DrBob [mention nonlinear and anisotropic media]

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Difference (from prior major revision) (no other diffs)

Changed: 5c5

As decribed by Maxwell's equations, light is a [transverse wave]? made up of an interacting electric field E and a magnetic field B. The oscillations of these two interacting fields cause the fields to self-propagate in a certain direction, at the speed of light. In most cases, the directions of the electric field, the magnetic field, and the direction of propagation of the light are all mutually perpendicular. That is, Both the E and B fields oscillate in a direction at right angles to the direction that the light is moving, and also at right angles to each other.

As decribed by Maxwell's equations, light is a transverse wave made up of an interacting electric field E and a magnetic field B. The oscillations of these two interacting fields cause the fields to self-propagate in a certain direction, at the speed of light. In most cases, the directions of the electric field, the magnetic field, and the direction of propagation of the light are all mutually perpendicular. That is, Both the E and B fields oscillate in a direction at right angles to the direction that the light is moving, and also at right angles to each other.