The text here would appear to be confusing about what circular polarization means. Circular (or more generally, elliptical) polarization doesn't mean the light doesn't travel in a straight line.
Rather it means that the oscillations in the electrical (or equivalently, magnetic) field that the light consists of rotate around the axis that is the light's direction of travel, rather than staying in one fixed plane. The direction of travel stays constant though.
One way to think about this is to pick x and y directions perpendicular to the light's path of travel, and break down the light's oscillations into x and y components. Linear polarization occurs when these components are in phase with each other, and elliptical polarization occurs when they're not. When they're perfectly one quarter turn out of phase, you get circular polarization.
The Oatmeal claims that, "the mantis shrimp sees a thermonuclear bomb of light and beauty." This piece contradicts that claim:
"Mantis shrimp have twelve photoreceptor classes. Humans have three. We derive a spectrum of colors through comparisons between our three classes; this is called the opponent process or opponency. Mantis shrimp do not do this. They collapse the spectrum into just twelve colors."
richardfey|3 years ago
https://www.nature.com/articles/166958b0
swyx|3 years ago
wait what? they can bend light? make it not travel in a straight line? color me skeptical
Sniffnoy|3 years ago
Rather it means that the oscillations in the electrical (or equivalently, magnetic) field that the light consists of rotate around the axis that is the light's direction of travel, rather than staying in one fixed plane. The direction of travel stays constant though.
You might want to see the Wikipedia articles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_polarization https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptical_polarization
One way to think about this is to pick x and y directions perpendicular to the light's path of travel, and break down the light's oscillations into x and y components. Linear polarization occurs when these components are in phase with each other, and elliptical polarization occurs when they're not. When they're perfectly one quarter turn out of phase, you get circular polarization.
unknown|3 years ago
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cultofmetatron|3 years ago
fnordpiglet|3 years ago
vmoore|3 years ago
https://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp
ilovecurl|3 years ago
The Oatmeal claims that, "the mantis shrimp sees a thermonuclear bomb of light and beauty." This piece contradicts that claim:
"Mantis shrimp have twelve photoreceptor classes. Humans have three. We derive a spectrum of colors through comparisons between our three classes; this is called the opponent process or opponency. Mantis shrimp do not do this. They collapse the spectrum into just twelve colors."
tootie|3 years ago
Also of interest, mantis shrimp are edible and quite delicious.
tpmx|3 years ago
unknown|3 years ago
[deleted]
carlob|3 years ago