What type of polarization does an electromagnetic (EM) wave have when the electric field component is rotating in a counter-clockwise sense?

When considering the polarization of an electromagnetic (EM) wave, the direction in which the electric field component rotates is crucial in determining the type of polarization. When the electric field rotates in a counter-clockwise direction, it is characterized as left-hand circular polarization.

In left-hand circular polarization, if you were to look at the wave traveling towards you, the electric field vector rotates in a counter-clockwise manner. This can often be visualized as the spiral of a corkscrew that is moving away from you in the left-hand sense.

Conversely, if the electric field were to rotate in a clockwise direction, it would be termed right-hand circular polarization. Horizontal and vertical polarizations describe linear polarizations where the electric field oscillates in a specific straight line, either horizontally or vertically, rather than in circular motion.

Recognizing these characteristics helps in understanding how signals behave and how they can be manipulated in electronic warfare and communication systems.