The electric field is made up of an x-component and a y-component.

If the x and y-components are equal in magnitude and differ in phase by 90-degrees circular polarization will result.  The figures below show a representation of the resulting polarization.

Animated gif

LiveGraphics3D
Place mouse cursor over image to obtain animation.  Using the mouse grab the LiveGraphics3D plot and rotate. Press s to see stereo pictures.  Press shift and move mouse to zoom or rotate about an axis perpendicular to the picture. 

Thanks to
José Antonio Díaz Navas
Catedrático de Escuela Universitaria
Departamento de Óptica
Facultad de Ciencias
Avda. Severo Ochoa S/N
18071-Granada Spain
email: jadiaz@ugr.es
web: www.ugr.es/~jadiaz