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A circularly polarized wave can be composed of two orthogonal linearly polarized modes shifted in phase. A phase shift would be produced by a plasma in a magnetic field perpendicular to the propagation direction of the waves (here along the z-direction). Without phase-shift the sum of the two modes would be a purely linearly polarized wave. movie shows the effect of how phase-shifts in a region will turn such a linearly polarized wave in to a circularly polarized wave (conversion). See Sec. 2.3 for details.
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A linearly polarized wave can be composed of two orthogonal circularly polarized modes shifted in phase. A phase shift would be produced by a plasma in a magnetic field along the propagation direction of the waves (here along the y-direction). The movie shows the effect of additional phase-shifts on the linear polarization, leading to Faraday rotation. See Sec. 2.3 for details.