Understanding Parallel and Perpendicular Polarization of Waves

[banker16]

I am reading a book about radomes and am confused about what is meant by parallel and perpendicular polarizations. I am familiar with vertical and horizontal. I am having trouble determining the connection between them. Anyone?

 

[berkeman]

It should indicate parallel and perpendicular to what.

 

[banker16]

It is referring to the plane of incidence. So I think that if I have a vertically polarized source horn and cut in the h plane then I am parallel to the plane of incidence on a flat panel. It is still a little coudy, but I think that is correct.

 

[dlgoff]

Another coordinate system frequently used relates to the plane made by the propagation direction and a vector normal to the plane of a reflecting surface. This is known as the plane of incidence. The rays in this plane are illustrated in the diagram to the right. The component of the electric field parallel to this plane is termed p-like (parallel) and the component perpendicular to this plane is termed s-like...

I found this reference to parallel polarization on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarization"