circular polarization

noun

, Optics.

1. polarization in which the vector representing the instantaneous intensity of the electromagnetic field describes a circular helix in the direction of propagation.

circular polarization

noun

1. electromagnetic radiation (esp light) in which the electric field vector describes a circle about the direction of propagation at any point in the path of the radiation

Word History and Origins

Origin of circular polarization¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

He switched to circular polarization, to see if they presented a constant area to the radar beam.

From Project Gutenberg