Cutter Ketch said:
The polarization of an EM wave refers to the direction in which the electric field oscillates. In p polarization, the electric field is perpendicular to the plane of incidence, while in s polarization, it is parallel to the plane of incidence. This means that p-polarized light will have its electric field oscillating up and down, while s-polarized light will have its electric field oscillating back and forth.
The angle of incidence is the angle at which the EM wave hits the surface. For normal incidence, where the wave is perpendicular to the surface, both p and s polarizations will be present. However, as the angle of incidence increases, p polarization becomes stronger, and at a certain angle (known as the Brewster angle), s polarization disappears completely.
The convention for determining the polarization of an EM wave is based on the direction in which the electric field oscillates. If the electric field oscillates in the direction of the y-axis, the wave is said to be p-polarized. If it oscillates in the direction of the x-axis, the wave is said to be s-polarized. This convention is commonly used in optics and electromagnetics.
The polarization of an EM wave can affect its interaction with matter in various ways. For example, p-polarized light is more likely to be reflected off of a smooth surface, while s-polarized light is more likely to be transmitted through it. Additionally, certain materials may have different absorption properties for p and s polarizations, leading to differences in how the wave is attenuated.
Yes, an EM wave can have both p and s polarization simultaneously, as long as it is at normal incidence (perpendicular to the surface). At other angles of incidence, the two polarizations will have different strengths, and at the Brewster angle, only p polarization will be present.
