In electrodynamics, polarization (Brit., polarisation) is the property of electromagnetic waves, such as light, that describes the direction of the electric field. More generally, the polarization of a transverse wave describes the direction of oscillation in the plane perpendicular to the direction of travel. Longitudinal waves such as sound waves do not exhibit polarization, because for these waves the direction of oscillation is along (and uniquely determined by) the direction of travel. In