| Term: | Circular |
| Definition: |
Relative to polarization, right-handcircularly polarized light is defined such that the electric field isrotating clockwise as seen by an observer towards whom the wave is moving.Left-hand circularly polarized light is defined such that the electric fieldis rotating counterclockwise as seen by an observer towards whom the wave ismoving. The polarization of magnetohydrodynamic waves is specified withrespect to the ambient mean magnetic field : right-hand polarized waves havea transverse electric field component which turns in a right-handed sense(that of the gyrating electrons) around the magnetic field. |