Polarization of Electromagnetic wave

najeeb

Dear friends i know that a wave is linearly polarized if its components have a phase difference of n*∏ and is circularly polarized if phase difference is n*∏/2. But what if phase difference is neither ∏ nor ∏/2? like for E= a_x exp(-j(βy-∏/4)) + a_zexp(-j(βy-∏/2))... thanx in advance....

sophiecentaur

Try Elliptical?
It's the term used in RF.

najeeb

In eliptical polarization there is a phase difference of n*∏/2 and the amplitudes of the components are different.

sophiecentaur

Both ways will produce elliptical polarisation. After all, it's only adding / resolving vectors.
[Edit: look at some Lissajous Figures, they will show the way that patterns can be obtained. They are directly analogous to what happens with polarisation]