Superposition of plane-polarized waves 1.

When two electromagnetic waves plane-polarized in two perpendicular planes are present simultaneously, the properties of the resulting electromagnetic wave depend on the intensities and phase difference of the component waves.

Animation:  the superposition of two waves of same amplitude and wavelength polarized in two perpendicular planes and oscillate in the same phase.  The superposing components are visualized with red and green color, respectively. The wave resulting from the superposition is shown in light blue.

3D animation

When the intersecting plane is looked at from the front then the following image is seen:

2D animation

(Attention! The two animations are not synchronized!)

The superposition is another wave that is plane-polarized and its plane of polarization forms a 45° angle with the polarization planes of the component waves.