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Chapter 26

Wave Optics

Book Version 3
By Boundless
Boundless Physics
Physics
by Boundless
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Section 1
Superposition and Interference
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Conditions for Wave Interference: Reflection due to Phase Change

Interference is a phenomenon in which two waves superimpose to form a resultant wave of greater or lesser amplitude.

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Air Wedge

An air wedge is a simple interferometer used to visualize the disturbance of the wave front after propagation through a test object.

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Newton's Rings

Newton's rings are a series of concentric circles centered at the point of contact between a spherical and a flat surface.

Section 2
Diffraction
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Huygens' Principle

Huygens's Principle states that every point on a wavefront is a source of wavelets, which spread forward at the same speed.

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Young's Double Slit Experiment

The double-slit experiment, also called Young's experiment, shows that matter and energy can display both wave and particle characteristics.

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Diffraction Gratings: X-Ray, Grating, Reflection

Diffraction grating has periodic structure that splits and diffracts light into several beams travelling in different directions.

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Single Slit Diffraction

Single slit diffraction is the phenomenon that occurs when waves pass through a narrow gap and bend, forming an interference pattern.

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The Rayleigh Criterion

The Rayleigh criterion determines the separation angle between two light sources which are distinguishable from each other.

Section 3
Further Topics
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Thin Film Interference

Thin film interference occurs when incident light waves reflected by the different layers of a thin film interfere and form a new wave.

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Polarization By Passing Light Through Polarizers

Polarization is the attribute that wave oscillations have a definite direction relative to the direction of propagation of the wave.

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Polarization By Scattering and Reflecting

Unpolarized light can be polarized artificially, as well as by natural phenomenon like reflection and scattering.

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Scattering of Light by the Atmosphere

Rayleigh scattering describes the air's gas molecules scattering light as it enters the atmosphere; it also describes why the sky is blue.

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Dispersion of the Visible Spectrum

Dispersion is the spreading of white light into its full spectrum of wavelengths; this phenomenon can be observed in prisms and rainbows.

Section 4
Applications of Wave Optics
Enhancement of Microscopy

Microscopy helps us view objects that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

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The Spectrometer

A spectrometer uses properties of light to identify atoms by measuring wavelength and frequency, which are functions of radiated energy.

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The Michelson Interferometer

The Michelson interferometer is the most common configuration for optical interferometry.

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LCDs

Liquid crystal displays use liquid crystals which do not emit light, but use the light modulating properties of the crystals.

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Using Interference to Read CDs and DVDs

Optical discs are digital storing media read in an optical disc drive using laser beam.

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Boundless Physics by Boundless
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Vision and Optical Instruments
  • The Human Eye
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Chapter 26
Wave Optics
  • Superposition and Interference
  • Diffraction
  • Further Topics
  • Applications of Wave Optics
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Special Relativity
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