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Mapping diamond surfaces using interference (view source)
Revision as of 13:27, 14 March 2007
, 13:27, 14 March 2007no edit summary
==INTERFERENCE AND LIGHT WAVES==
==INTERFERENCE AND LIGHT WAVES==
Light (electromagnetic radiation) [[Image:emwave.jpg|thumb|An Electromagnetic Wave! (courtesy of [http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~mlyount/MySites/ForensicSpectroscopy/Vocab.html])]] is comprised of an temporally and spatially oscillating electric and magnetic field components. These components are orthogonal to each other as well as to the direction of propagation given by the Poynting vector. Wave equations for the electric and magnetic fields can be derived using [[Maxwell's Equations]].
Light (electromagnetic radiation) [[Image:emwave.jpg|thumb|An Electromagnetic Wave! (courtesy of [http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~mlyount/MySites/ForensicSpectroscopy/Vocab.html])]] is comprised of an temporally and spatially oscillating electric and magnetic field components. These components are orthogonal to each other as well as to the direction of propagation given by the Poynting vector. Wave equations for the electric and magnetic fields can be derived using [[Maxwell's Equations]].
<math>\nabla^2 \boldsymbol{E} = \frac{1}{c^2} \frac{\partial^2 \boldsymbol{E}}{\partial t^2}</math>
<math>\nabla^2 \boldsymbol{B} = \frac{1}{c^2} \frac{\partial^2 \boldsymbol{B}}{\partial t^2}</math>
Something about plane wave solutions here.
Something about plane wave solutions here.
<math>\boldsymbol{E} = \boldsymbol{E_0} e^{\boldsymbol{k \cdot x} - \omega t}</math>
<math>\boldsymbol{E} = \boldsymbol{E_0} e^{\boldsymbol{k \cdot x} - \omega t}</math>
Electromagnetic waves also have the property that they interfere. [[Image:MichIntInt.jpg|thumb|Interference from a Michelson Interferometer (courtesy of [http://www.arikah.com/encyclopedia/Interference])]] Like interfering mechanical waves, EM waves can interfere destructively or constructively depending on the phase difference between the two waves. In order for this to occur, the light waves must be traveling in the same direction, be of the same wavelength and have “a constant phase with respect to each other” (Serway and Jewett 1177). A picture of EM wave interference is shown at right.
Electromagnetic waves also have the property that they interfere. [[Image:MichIntInt.jpg|thumb|Interference from a Michelson Interferometer (courtesy of [http://www.arikah.com/encyclopedia/Interference])]] Like interfering mechanical waves, EM waves can interfere destructively or constructively depending on the phase difference between the two waves. In order for this to occur, the light waves must be traveling in the same direction, be of the same wavelength and have “a constant phase with respect to each other” (Serway and Jewett 1177). A picture of EM wave interference is shown at right.