Change in the direction of the polarization vector and redshift of an incoming light ray as observed from a rotating frame

Abstract

In the present work, the change in the direction of the polarization vector of an incoming light ray is extensively calculated for a rotating observer. The change in the direction of the polarization vector calculated here is only due to the effect of the non-inertial rotating frame, considering that the light source is at a distance and it is emitting plane-polarized light. The metric tensors for a rotating observer have been collected from existing literature. Accordingly, the electric displacement and magnetic induction values as applicable for a rotating observer have been calculated. These values are used to calculate the change in the orientation of the electric vector of an incoming plane-polarized light ray. Earth has been taken as an example of a rotating frame and the calculated amount of change in the direction of the polarization vector has been found to be dependent on the azimuthal and polar coordinates of the rotating frame. The present work also discusses the redshift as observed by a rotating observer and the value of the redshift has been calculated for an observer sitting on a rotating earth.