Elliptical polarization
In
electrodynamics elliptical polarization is the
polarization of
electromagnetic radiation such that the tip of the
electric field vector describes an
ellipse in any fixed plane intersecting, and
normal to, the direction of propagation. An elliptically polarized wave may be resolved into two linearly polarized waves in
phase quadrature with their polarization planes at right angles to each other.
All forms of polarization can be considered elliptical, including circular and linear polarization.