Circular polarisation of an electromagnetic wave

3D ModelNoAI

Circular polarisation of an electromagnetic wave involves the plane of polarisation rotating in a corkscrew pattern, at a constant rate, making one complete revolution during each wavelength. At any point in time, the vector of the wave shows a point on a helix aligned along the propagation’s direction.

A circularly polarised wave can rotate in one of two possible ways - clockwise and counter-clockwise. This model would be considered left-handed / counter-clockwise from the point of view of the source (or transmitter).