The phenomenon of interference and diffraction have proved beyond any doubt that light is some from of wave motion. But these properties of do not tell us whether the waves so essential for explaining these phenomena are longitudinal or transverse. Also regarding the nature of vibrations(whether linear, circular, elliptical or torsional) no clue is provided by these phenomena. It is the phenomenon of polarisation which could decide this question and show that waves are definitely transverse in nature.
plane polarized light:
When ordinary light is allowed to pass through a tourmaline crystal, the vibrations are confined only to one direction of propagation of light. This light which has acquired the property of one sidedness and the vibrations are linear is called "plane polarized or linearly polarized light".
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