So far I knew about light-polarization is like this …
in an event of a plane-polarization, the polarizer-crystal does NOT separate the electric-component and magnetic component of the light. The magnetic component after polarization is just Not drawn to avoid some (?) complications. So ,
Fig 1.
the vertical arrows is just an abbreviation showing the vertical electric field, and not showing the horizontal magnetic fields. (in fig. 1 the dot-sign indicates we're viewing the ray coming towards our eye). (In the right-side, realistic image, i did not shown double-headed arrow b'coz i've shown condition at one moment)
So, if we could draw the plane-polarization event including the magnetic field, it should look like this.
Fig 2.
If we could show the magnetic field, it should look like this. Fig 2a when we would see from side, fig 2 b when we would see from front. (in fig 2b i didn't used double-headed arrow because i shown condition of one moment.)
I can't recall exact source from my memory… it would be my college chemistry classes.
Now a geology college-student is telling the above-thing is completely wrong. According to them,
The polarizing-crystal actually filters-out the magnetic-component and allows only the electric-component only, like this-
Fig 3.
Only electric-component coming-in.
Both of us searched internet for hours make the dispute clear, but I could not display them any diagram that displays that , after being filtered through a polarizing crystal, the wave retains both the components. So they didn't believed this and stood on the same point (fig. 3)
So, My question is, which-one of the concept of linear-polarization (from above 2) is correct? If both is wrong, then what would be the correct concept?
Best Answer
You are (mostly) right, your geology friend is wrong.
As stated in the comments, an electromagnetic wave can not consist of only an electric nor of only a magnetic field. They go hand in hand.