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r r
2
E = E o sin
( x ct )
= c, in vacuo.
Atmospheric transmission.
Interference:
e.g., double-slit (Youngs) pattern of interfering waves.
The amplitudes of the overlapping waves add directly, but the brightness or intensity
depends on the square of the sum (where a 1-d. equation is used for simplicity).
I E 1 sin
( x1 ct ) + E 2 sin
(x 2 ct )
Refraction (dispersion): Generally light rays are bent as they pass through the
boundary between two media, or through a medium with a temperature or pressure
gradient. Dispersion results whern the bending (or index of refraction) depends on
wavelength.
Ray optics + Huygens wave principle help us better understand diffraction and
interference.
2 slits again x =
x = /2
x = 0
Intensity
Mirror reflection:
Width of central
diffraction peak:
/d,
where d is the
aperature size. This
gives,
x = 0
x =
= 5 x 10-7 rad =
0.1 arcsecond for a
1 m diameter
telescope.
Reverse diffraction pattern
= h = hc/.
This relation connects the wave-particle dual characteristics of EM radiation.
The particle aspect is most relevant at high energies, or very low light levels,
i.e., where there are few photons.
o 1 v /c
Doppler
r
I =
E
n
At
J
.
2
s m Hz ster
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Alternately, the flux received at a detector is the total incoming energy per
unit time, etc., from any angle (though often from a single point source).