The discussion clarifies that a photon can exhibit two types of polarization: left circularly polarized and right circularly polarized. A left polarized photon corresponds to helicity +1, while a right polarized photon corresponds to helicity -1. This distinction arises from the definition of circular polarization in optics, which is based on the perspective of incoming light, contrasting with helicity, which is defined by the spin angular momentum aligned with the photon's momentum.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, students of quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the properties of light and its applications in technology will benefit from this discussion.
The simple description is that a photon can be left or right circularly polarized. A left polarized photon has helicity +1 and a right polarized photon has helicity -1. The reason for left being associated with + helicity is that circular polarization in optics is defined by looking at the oncoming light, while the helicity is the spin angular momentum in the direction of the photons momentum.emma83 said:Can somebody explain me what are precisely the polarization vectors of a photon and how they relate to the photon's momentum and helicity ?