What do polarisation lens block?

[TT0]

Electromagnetic waves are created by a accelerating charge that induces a changing electric field, that induces a changing magnetic field which propagates together through space. The electric and magnetic field are at right angles to each other. Polarisation blocks all but one plane of the transverse wave. Does it block the electric or magnetic field? Or is the transverse wave of light caused by the wave nature of the direction the propagation of the 2 fields (so it is perpendicular to both electric and magnetic fields at all times)? Or am I misunderstanding something?

Thanks

 

[davenn]

Does it block the electric or magnetic field?

when we talk about light and its polarisation, we are always referring to the electric field
So, for example, your polarising sunglasses block the electric field that doesn't align with the
polarity of the polarising filter

 

[Nugatory]

Does it block the electric or magnetic field?

Both. A vertically oriented polarizing filter blocks light in which the electrical field is oscillating in the vertical plane and the magnetic field is oscillating in the horizontal plane.

 

[vanhees71]

The first sentence in #1 should stop earlier and read:

"Electromagnetic waves are created by a accelerating charge that induces a changing electromagnetic field."

The causal and local sources of the electromagnetic field (there is not an electric and a magnetic field but only electric and magnetic components of the electromagnetic field, depending on the frame of reference they refer to) is the charge-current distribution, as is clearly shown by the Jefimenko equations:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefimenko's_equations

 

[TT0]

Both. A vertically oriented polarizing filter blocks light in which the electrical field is oscillating in the vertical plane and the magnetic field is oscillating in the horizontal plane.

I see, just to check my understanding, does that mean a horizontally orientated polarising filter blocks light in which the electrical field is oscillating in the horizontal plane and the magnetic field is oscillating in the vertical plane but not light in which the electrical field is oscillating in the vertical plane and the magnetic field is oscillating in the horizontal plane?

Thanks a lot