right-hand polarization [`rīt ¦hand ´pō·lǝ·rǝ`zā·shǝn] ELECTROMAGNETISM In elementary particle discussions, circular or elliptical polarization of an electromagnetic wave in which the electric field vector at a fixed point in space rotates in the right- hand sense about the direction of propagation; in optics, the opposite convention is used; in facing the source of the beam, the electric vector is observed to rotate clockwise. |