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Laser Polarization: The Importance of Polarization in Laser Applications

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Laser Polarization: The Importance of Polarization in Laser Applications

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  • Author: Hayden Kim
Light can be understood as a transverse electromagnetic wave composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields. The orientation of the electric field in the light wave is described by the light's polarization. Many light sources including sunlight, halogen lighting, and LED spotlights are considered unpolarized because the orientation of their electric fields fluctuates randomly in time. Laser sources, on the other hand, are often linearly polarized. Understanding laser polarization is important for many applications, as polarization impacts reflectance, the focus of laser beams, and other optical behaviors that affect end applications of the laser. While most laser sources are linearly polarized, other classifications of polarization can also be generated, such as circular, elliptical, and radial polarization.

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