Visualizations by
Tom Bridgman
Released on July 7, 2017
A huge amount of our remote sensing capability depends on the light, AKA electromagnetic radiation, which we receive from distant objects. In addition to the light's wavelength and frequency (which tell us the speed of the radiation - which can be slower than 'c' in some environments), the polarization of the waves can reveal more insights on the source of the light, and the region through which it has passed.
The wave polarization is determined by the direction of the electric vector (represented by yellow arrows in these visualizations). We classify electromagnetic wave polarization as linearly polarized or circularly polarized, depending on whether the electric vector maintains a fixed direction in space (linear polarization) or rotates around the direction vector (red arrows) in the case of circular polarization. Circular polarization can be classified as left-circularly polarized or right-circularly polarized. There is also elliptical polarization which can be constructed as a combination of linear, left- and right-polarized waves.
Tom Bridgman (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Lead Visualizer Mara Johnson-Groh (Wyle Information Systems): Writer Laurence Schuler (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support Ian Jones (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support
Please give credit for this item to: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
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