Near field of an oscillating electric dipole and cross-polarization of a collimated beam of light: two sides of the same coin

TL;DR

This paper explores the fundamental connection between the near-field of an oscillating electric dipole and the cross-polarization in collimated light beams, revealing they share a common physical origin related to field transversality.

Contribution

It demonstrates a fundamental link between near-field electromagnetic distributions and cross-polarization phenomena, unifying two previously separate concepts.

Findings

Both phenomena originate from the transversality condition of electromagnetic fields.

The complex field distributions in both cases are shown to have a common physical basis.

The work provides a new perspective on the physical principles underlying near-field and polarization effects.

Abstract

We address the question of whether there exists a hidden relationship between the near-field distribution generated by an oscillating electric dipole and the so-called cross polarization of a collimated beam of light. We find that the answer is affirmative by showing that the complex field distributions occurring in both cases have a common physical origin: the requirement that the electromagnetic fields must be transverse.