All Questions
4
questions
1
vote
1
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101
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A possible new type of interference pattern?
In quantum mechanics, one often encounters complex interference patterns.
Here, I am curious about geometric interference patterns. For instance, let me define two wave-functions:
$$
\psi_1 = \exp (...
- 2,589
4
votes
0
answers
69
views
Why don't more celestial bodies exhibit higher-order rotations?
It is well known that the Earth spins on its axis. It is also well known that the Earth's axis also precesses, i.e. spins around a secondary axis, much more slowly. Less well known is that we have ...
- 434
13
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Physical or geometric meaning of the trace of a matrix
The geometric meaning of the determinant of a matrix as an area or a volume is dealt with in many textbooks. However, I don't know if the trace of a matrix has a geometric meaning too.
Is there ...
- 8,294
1
vote
1
answer
116
views
Elliptical polarisation
In physic context one find the curve with parametrisation in t, $x=x_0\cos(t)$ and $y=y_0\cos(t+\varphi)$ with is an ellipse with equation
$$\left(\frac{x}{x_0\sin(\varphi)}\right)^2+\left(\frac{y}{...
- 2,790