Polarization

GLOSSARY

POLARIZATION

 

Polarization is a property of light. Light is the vibration of an electric field and a magnetic field. This is why light is called an "electromagnetic wave". In non-polarized light, both fields have a random orientation with respect to the direction of light propagation. Polarized light has a given vibration direction. Understanding polarization has played a major role in the development of many objects used in modern daily life, such as sunglasses. In astrophysics, studying the polarization of light is very useful: it can give information about interstellar dust or about the magnetic fields of celestial objects.