A light beam is said to be linearly polarized if the end-point of the electric vector moves in a straight line when viewed along the direction of propagation of the beam. If it moves along a circle the beam is circularly polarized and if it moves along an ellipse the beam is elliptically polarized.
Note:
Circular @P04712@ is said to be right-handed if the direction of rotation is clockwise when viewed against the direction of @P04881@ and left-handed if the sense of the rotation is opposite. When the position of the endpoint of the electric vector is viewed at a given time t as a function of distance along x, it forms a left-handed @H02769@ if the light @P04712@ is left-handed and a right-handed @H02769@ if it is right-handed.
Source:
PAC, 2007, 79, 293. 'Glossary of terms used in photochemistry, 3rd edition (IUPAC Recommendations 2006)' on page 364 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac200779030293)