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Related Concept Videos

Potential Due to a Polarized Object01:29

Potential Due to a Polarized Object

A neutral atom consists of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by a negatively charged electron cloud. When placed in an external electric field, the external electric force pulls the electrons and nucleus apart, opposite to the intrinsic attraction between the nucleus and the electrons. The opposing forces balance each other with a slight shift between the center of masses of the nucleus and the electron cloud, resulting in a polarized atom. On the other hand, a few molecules, like water,...
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Directional radiation patterns are central to antenna analysis, as they illustrate how signal strength varies with direction. These patterns are often modeled using polar plots, where the radial distance from the origin represents signal intensity at a given angle. A commonly used idealized form is the four-lobed rose curve, which captures the concept of directional beams in a simplified mathematical form.The four-lobed rose curve, described by r = cos⁡(2θ), features four symmetric lobes, each...
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Propagation of Waves

When a wave propagates from one medium to another, part of it may get reflected in the first medium, and part of it may get transmitted to the second medium. In such a case, the interface of the two mediums can be considered as a boundary that is neither fixed nor free.
Consider a scenario where a wave propagates from a string of low linear mass density to a string of high linear mass density. In such a case, the reflected wave is out of phase with respect to the incident wave, however the...
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Plane Electromagnetic Waves I01:30

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The existence of combined electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space as electromagnetic (EM) waves is the most significant prediction of Maxwell's equations. As Maxwell's equations hold in free space, the predicted electromagnetic waves do not require a medium for their propagation. An EM wave comprises an electric field, defined as the force per charge on a stationary charge, and a magnetic field, which is the force per charge on a moving charge.
The EM field is assumed to be a...
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The presence of a dielectric medium in a capacitor not only changes the voltage and capacitance but also affects the electric field. In general, dielectrics can be of two types: polar and nonpolar. In a polar dielectric, the positive and negative charges in the molecules are separated by a distance and hence have a permanent dipole moment. In contrast, no such charge separation exists in a nonpolar dielectric, however the nonpolar molecules get polarized in the presence of an external electric...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

A Photonic System for Generating Unconditional Polarization-Entangled Photons Based on Multiple Quantum Interference
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Polarization invariance in beam propagation.

Emil Wolf1

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, NY 14627, USA.

Optics Letters
|December 7, 2007
PubMed
Summary

The polarization of light beams can change during propagation. This study identifies conditions ensuring the degree of polarization remains constant from source to far zone for specific electromagnetic sources.

Area of Science:

  • Optics
  • Electromagnetism
  • Wave propagation

Background:

  • The degree of polarization of light can change as it propagates through space.
  • Understanding polarization stability is crucial for various optical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To derive conditions for maintaining the degree of polarization of a light beam during propagation.
  • To investigate the behavior of beams from uniformly polarized stochastic electromagnetic sources.

Main Methods:

  • Derivation of sufficiency conditions.
  • Analysis of electromagnetic wave propagation in free space.
  • Focus on stochastic, uniformly polarized sources.

Main Results:

  • Identified specific conditions under which the degree of polarization is invariant.

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  • Demonstrated that for a wide class of sources, polarization remains constant in the far zone and source plane.
  • The findings apply to uniformly polarized stochastic electromagnetic sources.

    • Conclusions:

    • The degree of polarization of certain stochastic electromagnetic beams can be conserved during propagation.
    • These findings provide theoretical criteria for polarization-stable light beams.