Can Magnetic Fields Be Polarized Like Light?

[db1uover]

Can magnetic fields be polarized like light? I heard sometime ago that light can be rotated about the horizontal axis by some theta. Is it possible to rotate it far enough that it becomes a magnetic field? If so, can you regain the light field?

 

[Andy Resnick]

The term 'polarization' usually refers specifically to the direction of the electric field. However, the magnetic field can certainly behave in the same sense of the term. For example, linearly polarized light propagating in 'z' has the electric field oriented in 'x' and the magnetic field in 'y'.

However, rotating the polarization state of light will also rotate the magentic field- the electric and magnetic fields must remain orthogonal to support propagating beams.