Wave Polarization

Abstract

In optical astronomy, the convention for circular polarization is opposite to that used in radio astronomy, as used in this chapter. The difference is contained inthe convention of the direction in which the wave is rotating. In the optical case, right-handed circular polarization has $\sin \delta < 0$. Make use of this change to interpret the sense of rotation of right-handed circular polarization (contrast with the description in the caption of Fig. 3.3 of ‘Tools’, given here as figure 3.1).