All Questions
106
questions
0
votes
2
answers
123
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Diffraction when the wavefront is not parallel to the plane
I am studying Feynman's chapter on the origin of the index of the refractive index (see this link).
If I am not mistaken, what he does is to prove that when a wave enters a medium (modelled as a ...
- 507
2
votes
2
answers
55
views
Why is a monochromatic wave temporally coherent for all time delays $\tau$?
I've been learning about coherence of waves and the Wikipedia page on says a monochromatic electromagnetic plane wave is coherent because:
A wave containing only a single frequency (monochromatic) is ...
- 531
0
votes
2
answers
53
views
Amplitude of light in double slit experiment
While reading about double slit experiment I have found no article where the amplitudes of light at the board ( on which light falls) is calculated . Only the fringe width and intensity ratios are ...
- 63
2
votes
0
answers
26
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How can Fresnel's transmission coefficient be nonzero in Total Internal Reflection?
I'm working on a problem in which a wave is moving through a transparent medium of refractive constant $n_i$. It then reaches the interface of said medium with another one of refractive constant $n_t&...
- 1,616
1
vote
1
answer
55
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Ambiguities in optical waveguide modes
While studying concept of slab waveguide mode, I got stuck on some problems.
In textbook(Yariv chapter 3 pg 112), for guided TE modes it tells that the mode function
is taken as
which means that the ...
7
votes
5
answers
14k
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Light waves can't have a wavelength
The wave nature of light comes from Maxwell's equations. More precisely, the two wave equations that come from them:
$$\Delta\vec{E}=\mu\varepsilon \frac{\partial^2\vec{E}}{\partial t^2}\\
\Delta\vec{...
- 267
1
vote
0
answers
26
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Physical interpretation of a dielectric's absorption curve
A given dielectric will behave as an absorbing medium for some frecuencies (those near one of the material's several resonant frequencies), whilst it will behave as a non-absorbing medium for the rest ...
- 1,616
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0
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17
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If a material is homogeneous in $\varepsilon$, can this material be made of different atoms?
I'm currently trying to derive the microscopic expression for the dielectric constant of a material following my proffessor's notes. However, he admits that, even though he assumes $\varepsilon=...
- 1,616
1
vote
1
answer
31
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Effect of incident angle on wavelength of transmitted wave for normal polarisation?
In my electrodynamcis assignment I'm being asked to derive the wavelength of a normally polarised wave transmitted through a glass/air interface as a function of $n_1$ (the refractive index of the ...
- 11
0
votes
2
answers
47
views
Calculating magnetic field from polarized electric field
My question is very simple: let a plane monochromatic electromagnetic wave's electric field be:
$$\vec{E}=\begin{pmatrix}0\\1\\-i\end{pmatrix}e^{i(kx-\omega t)}$$
as you can see, the electric field is ...
- 1,616
0
votes
0
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30
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Polarization of electric field and its effect on the Poynting vector
To preface, I've little experience with optics. This is a very use-case specific project I'm undertaking. So, if there are any improvements in my method, I'd appreciate it!
I'm working with the vector ...
0
votes
1
answer
54
views
Understanding TE and TM modes in plane harmonic waves
I've been researching the concept of Transverse Electric and Magnetic modes, and I've found in this Wikipedia article that TE, for example, is defined when there is just $H$ in the direction of ...
- 1,616
0
votes
0
answers
21
views
What should be minimum width of slit for interference pattern to occur in a single slit experiment? [duplicate]
When two slits produce an interference pattern, and one slit is closed, then the interference pattern disappears. Why? As one-slit interference is still possible. What should be the measurements of ...
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
79
views
Differences in the direction of energy and wave propagation in anisotropic media
I have been studying how light behaves in dielectric and conductive media, and now I was about to study it in anisotropic media. The introduction to the subject is: "From Maxwell's equations it ...
- 67
0
votes
2
answers
156
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Graphical interpretation of complex electric fields
Before anything, I have read similar questions here but still something doesn't click perfectly, so I'll try to describe so.
My doubt is essentially that I have always thought $\vec E$ in the context ...
- 75