Elliptical polarization refers to a type of electromagnetic wave polarization where the electric field vector describes an ellipse over time, rather than a straight line (linear polarization) or a circle (circular polarization). This occurs when two orthogonal components of the electric field are out of phase with each other, leading to the rotation of the electric field vector and creating a more complex path. Elliptical polarization is significant because it encompasses both linear and circular polarizations as special cases, and is commonly encountered in various applications like optics and telecommunications.
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