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polarization

polarization

3 6.9
Light or other waves vibrate mostly in one direction
  • noun
  • /ˌpoʊlərɪˈzeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : polarización
  • Also, one determines the direction and polarization of a gravitational wave by measuring arrival-time differences between geographically dispersed detectors.
  • transverse polarization
  • longitudinal polarization
  • circular polarization

You have nanoseconds control over laser pulses that have to be aligned in time and polarization.

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Examples

  • At depths below 20 m, the polarization was due mostly to light scattering by the water itself.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The technique is based on the method of moments, with conductor and polarization currents represented by "rooftop" basis functions.

    Academic text (1995)
  • And let me then change the polarization back to to vertical.

  • How do we actually measure the polarization of radio photons?

    Academic text (1996)
  • Therefore, measuring the direction of the wave components and their polarization is a way to map out the magnetic field.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The direction of the polarization is perpendicular to the magnetic field.

    Academic text (1996)
  • This is the observable polarization in the XY plane.

  • Continuous corrosion meter provides corrosion rate measurements using the linear polarization technique.

    Academic text (1996)
  • This experiment measures the polarization of light waves to determine their direction of vibration.

  • Scientists use filters to control the polarization of light before conducting their experiments.

Antonyms

depolarization
  • Specialized
1 8.1

Loss of the electrical difference across a cell membrane when the inside becomes less negative

Surface Forms

polarization singular
polarizations plural

Morphology

polarization = polarize (transparent) = polar + ize + ation

Formed by regular nominalization of the verb 'polarize' with '-ation'; the step from 'polarize' to 'polarization' is a standard derivational process.

Etymology

Polarization starts with polar, a word that comes from 'pole' like the North or South Pole, and the ending -ization means 'process'. So, for light it means the process of making waves line up in one direction, like many arrows all pointing the same way.