Why light is not considered as a longitudinal wave?

[Trojan666ru]

I would like see the reasons why light is not considered as a LWave

 

[Dale]

It can be polarized.

 

[Pythagorean]

Because the quantity described in the amplitude of an electromagnetic wave is typically oriented perpendicular to the direction of propagation in physical space.

There are exceptions (like in plasmas), but that's a special circumstance.

 

[Trojan666ru]

Nobody is clear in their answers.
I would like to hear the reasons
It can be polarised! What?

 

[Dale]

I don't know how much more clear I can be. Longitudinal waves cannot be polarized. Light can be polarized. Therefore light cannot be a longitudinal wave.

 

[Trojan666ru]

How do we find that light can be polarized? Any experiment?

 

[Trojan666ru]

I don't know how much more clear I can be. Longitudinal waves cannot be polarized. Light can be polarized. Therefore light cannot be a longitudinal wave.

Is that the only reason why light is considered as a traverse wave?

 

[Dale]

Pythagorean gave another reason, and there are most likely still other reasons. All the reasons are equivalent mathematically, but to me the polarization is the one that seems most clear.

 

[Dale]

How do we find that light can be polarized? Any experiment?

Sure, take two polarizing filters (e.g. lenses from sunglasses), make light pass through both, and rotate them relative to each other to see light be blocked completely or pass.

 

[Claude Bile]

Light can be polarised longitudinally! (e.g. in an optical fibre or other waveguide structure).

In a vacuum, however, Maxwell's equations dictate that light cannot have a longitudinally polarised component.

Claude.

 

[ZapperZ]

Nobody is clear in their answers.
I would like to hear the reasons
It can be polarised! What?

This is very confusing, and no one has asked the OP one very obvious question, so I will ask.

Trojan666ru: have you ever solved Maxwell equation to obtain the light's wave equation?

If you haven't, please look at that first and see if that answers your question.

If you have, then what is the issue, considering that the transverse description of light just drops onto your lap when you solve it?

Zz.