All Questions
8
questions
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How is energy conserved in interference of light waves? [duplicate]
How is energy conserved during interference of light waves? I already know a textbook explanation that in constructive interference the resulting intensity is four times the initial intensity and for ...
- 538
2
votes
2
answers
259
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Why does the irradiance of two intersecting waves not contradict the conservation of evergy? [duplicate]
I am currently working through Optics by Eugene Hecht. When two waves intersect together, Hecht shows that the total irradiance $I$ is
$$I=I_1+I_2+\sqrt{I_1I_2}\cos{(\delta/2)}$$
where $I_1$ and $I_2$ ...
- 179
1
vote
4
answers
91
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Interference with ideal beam
I'm thinking about this setup and am a little confused:
An ideal beam (thin, no divergence) is entering from the left. It is split up by an ideal (50:50) beam splitter BS. They are united again at ...
- 1,778
2
votes
1
answer
796
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How to calculate thin film interference when the incident medium is absorbing?
Edit: I found a text that mentions that when the incident medium is absorbing, the usual equations for interference don't apply, so I have refined my question in the title.
I have been working on ...
- 73
1
vote
2
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569
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Destructive interference and energy conservation [duplicate]
In case of interference, we know, energy is neither destroyed, nor created; but only redistributed. But in the case of an extremely thin film, due to a reflection and hence a phase difference of $\pi$,...
- 884
0
votes
1
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693
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Interference of light waves question
We were recently asked to solve a question in class which goes as follows:
In a modified Young's double slit experiment, a monochromatic uniform and parallel light beam of wavelength $6000$ ...
- 735
2
votes
3
answers
919
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Violation of conservation of energy?
Imagine a perfectly spherical mirror with 100% reflection. Imagine a point source of light in the center. The point source keeps radiating light. Will the light undergo destructive interference ...
- 3,952
13
votes
2
answers
11k
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Where does energy go in destructive interference? [duplicate]
I have read that when two light waves interfere destructively, the energy contained within is transferred to other parts of the wave which have interfered constructively. However, I am having some ...
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