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. 2016 Jan 16;121(1):30–41. doi: 10.1002/2015JA021935

Table A1.

Relationships Between Wave Polarizations in the Plasma Frame and in the Spacecraft Framea

Direction of B o Direction of Wave Propagation Polarization in Plasma Frame Polarization in Spacecraft Frame
Toward Toward RCP LCP
Toward Away RCP RCP
Away Toward RCP LCP
Away Away RCP RCP
Toward Toward LCP RCP
Toward Away LCP LCP
Away Toward LCP RCP
Away Away LCP LCP
a

“Toward” and “Away” refer to the directions toward the Sun and away from the Sun, respectively. RCP and LCP indicate right‐hand circular polarization and left‐hand circular polarization, respectively. Polarization is defined with respect to rotation with respect to the direction of the ambient magnetic field B o, that is, in the plasma physics sense.