Spiral Ladder-Inspired Tool That Allows Precision Control of Light Direction and Polarization

Photonics is the study of the generation, detection, and manipulation of light waves in the form of photons. One interesting property of light is polarization, defined by its electric and magnetic fields oscillating in any direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation. This oscillation is not restricted to one plane. Circular polarization occurs when light waves have electric fields that follow a spiral trajectory along the direction of propagation.