Circular Electromagnetic Wave Polarizer

An more general elliptical (circular is a special case where Ex=Ez) polarized Electromagnetic Wave travels from left to right.

After passing through the first polarizer, the Electromagnetic Wave now is linearly polarized along the direction of the polarizer, θ₁ .This is usually how linearly polarized light is formed.

After passing through the second polarizer, the Electromagnetic Wave now is further linearly polarized along the direction of the second polarizer, θ₂. If θ₂=θ₁, the light passes through without any difference. If θ₂-θ₁=90 degree, the light passes through is completely blocked.

After passing through the third polarizer,the Electromagnetic Wave now is further linearly polarized along the direction of the third polarizer, θ₃. If θ₃ = θ₂= θ₁,the linearly polarized light passes through without any difference. If θ₃-θ₂=90 degree and θ₂-θ₁=0 degree, light inbetween polarizer 2 and 3 is unchanged, still linearly polarized, but light after polarizer 3 is completely blocked.

Visualization

Electric Field is represented as Red color segments

Magnetic Field is represented as Blue color segments

Polarizer 1 is Orange color

Polarizer 2 is Green color

Polarizer 3 is Magenta color

Controls

You can modify:

θ₁ is the angle of the first polarizer

θ₂ is the angle of the second polarizer

θ₃ is the angle of the third polarizer

under the combobox

yp₁ is the position of the first polarizer

yp₂ is the position of the second polarizer

yp₃ is the position of the third polarizer

under more? it is possible to explore these other more advance variables

Ex: electric field magnitude in x direction

Ez: electric field magnitude in z direction

phase: the phase difference between E and B

vy: wave velocity. which imply Ez/Bx=vy, where Bx is magnetic field magnitude

T :period of the wave. which imply wavelength(lamda)=vy*T

Please notice that E/B field are in phase when electromagnetic is travel in vacuum.