Questions tagged [huygens-principle]
Also known as the **Huygens-Fresnel principle**, this is a method of analysis used in problems of wave propagation in far-field and near-field diffraction. Use the diffraction tag for general diffraction questions.
164 questions
0
votes
1
answer
122
views
What actually is diffraction? [closed]
According to Huygens the slit has aether in it and hence generates secondary wavelets. But after the Michelson Morley experiment which failed to find the existence of aether and keeping in view the ...
- 45
1
vote
0
answers
37
views
Calculation of the complex field using Huygens sources
I would like to calculate the complex field at the point $\vec{r}=(x, y, z)$ in three-dimensional space. The field is generated by two point sources with position vectors $\vec{s}=(s_{x}, s_{y}, s_{z})...
1
vote
1
answer
51
views
According to Huygens' Princple, what happens to secondary wavelets when the sphere encircling the secondary source intersects a mirror?
A parallel light beam travelling towards a convex mirror. Wavefronts are shown with dotted lines.
Consider the wavefront at the instant when the rays are just about to touch the mirror. Say, we have ...
- 371
5
votes
2
answers
279
views
Huygens' principle and the laws of reflection/refraction
As I understand the Huygens principle, all points on the wavefront are sources of secondary spherical wavelets and the tangent to these wavelets will form new wavefront. This is used to prove the ...
- 317
29
votes
5
answers
14k
views
How can a point source emit spherical EM waves when they are forbidden by Maxwell's equations?
I know that there exist plane wave solutions to the Maxwell equations in free space, and I tried solving them for a spherical wave emanating from a point but could find no solution consistent with the ...
- 409
0
votes
2
answers
57
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 ...
- 73
2
votes
0
answers
52
views
Time evolution of scalar potential using Huygens principle
Huygens principle states that every point in space acts as a source of spherical waves. The amplitude for potential (scalar and vector) will be given by $V(r,t)=f(t-r/c)/r,$ where $f$ is a function ...
- 73
-1
votes
1
answer
88
views
Why diffraction is not happening?
Recently i encountered a problem on the Young's Double Slit Experiment. The question was paragraph and had multiple sub-parts on the different variations of the experiment.
One of them was about what ...
- 241
0
votes
2
answers
77
views
How to propagate the wavefunction of a photon in single slit diffraction?
During my undergrad, I remember writing a simulation in which the diffraction patterns which emerge from light passing through a single slit were calculated.
This was done, basically, by calculating ...
0
votes
1
answer
43
views
Why do we only consider two points in Young’s double slit experiment?
Say we have two slits in the xy-plane. The x distance between them is d. Why do we, when calculating the resulting amplitude of the wave, consider only the phase difference of two secondary radial ...
0
votes
0
answers
43
views
How can the amplitude of the secondary waves be derived by Huygens principle?
Huygens principle
The Huygens principle states that every point on a wavefront of a spherical wave
$$
A(\vec{r},t) = \frac{A_0}{r}e^{i(kr-\omega t)}
$$
can be seen as the source of a spherical wavelet....
- 57
0
votes
2
answers
75
views
Is the Huygens' principle consistent for intersecting wavefronts?
When refraction takes place at the interface of two media, wavefronts can be extended to intersect as below:
At point of intersection, light requires no time to travel between the wavefronts. However,...
1
vote
1
answer
65
views
Huygens Light Theory using Spheres and Miller's recent discovery?
Huygens writes in "Treatise on Light" a theory that propagation of light through the aether can be explained using Spherical waves emanating from every point and they interfere. Miller ...
- 245
2
votes
1
answer
129
views
Intuition behind Huygens' Principle?
I have recently started learning about physical or wave optics and one of the initial topics is Huygens' Principle.
One part of Huygens' Principle states that every point on the wavefront acts as a ...
- 61
1
vote
3
answers
97
views
Visualizing diffraction with Huygens' principle
I understand (both intuitively and mathematically) Huygens' principle -- that a wave front can be thought of as a sum of infinitely many spherical wavelets, which are each themselves a source of the ...
- 187
4
votes
0
answers
85
views
Does sound need an odd number of spatial dimensions?
In the book "when Einstein walked with Gödel" the author talks about Edwin A. Abotts "Flatland" stating that one problem which was unattended by Abott is the problem of acoustics ...
- 41
-2
votes
2
answers
63
views
Why the consecutive spherical wavefronts produced by a rest point source are not equidistant? [closed]
I learnt that a point source produces spherical wavefronts and i know the reasoning behind that too and while studying the concept again a question popped in my mind, that "Are those spherical ...
- 21
1
vote
6
answers
406
views
Explanation of diffraction of a single light ray by Huygens' principle
Huygens' principle is a great way to explain diffraction when light rays are incident on a slit, but how would one explain the diffraction of a single light ray crossing a slit?
- 79
0
votes
0
answers
34
views
Equating scalar summation of electric field to electric field at maxima in single slit diffraction
I was going through the standard derivation of intensity distribution in case of single slit diffraction
I don't understand why we equate the scalar summation of electric field phasors(or the length ...
- 5
1
vote
1
answer
119
views
In YDSE, Is taking the path difference as $d\sinθ$ a valid approximation? [closed]
Let the distance between the slits be $d$ and the distance between the slits and the screen be $D$.
According to what has been taught to me, here as $D \gg d$, we can consider the lines $S_1P$ & $...
- 21
3
votes
1
answer
158
views
Is Huygens' Law satisfied in the following case?
I have a GRIN lens with the refractive index varying linearly with y, and supposedly this lens tilts the wavefront.
Since the rays are travelling normally in both refractive index materials, they ...
0
votes
1
answer
119
views
Huygens-Fresnel integral and Rayleigh integral
While working with the Huygens-Fresnel integral, I learned about the Rayleigh integral again, and I can't tell where they apply and whether they can be replaced equivalently. Also, in terms of ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
89
views
Fermat's principle of least time confusion
The link is: https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/I_26.html#Ch26-F3
Hi, I'm reading Feynman's lecture on Optics: The principle of least time, and I'm wondering if I got what he's saying right. For ...
- 13
1
vote
1
answer
75
views
Does Huygens' principle prove that refraction path takes least time?
Fermat's principle, also known as the principle of least time, can be used to derive Snell's law, so does Huygens' principle. The former used a single ray of light from point A in medium 1 to point B ...
- 209
0
votes
1
answer
39
views
When to use Single Slit Destructive Interference and Double-Slit [closed]
QUESTION:
Two 0.010-mm-wide slits are 0.030mm apart (center to center). Determine (a) the
spacing between interference fringes for 580 nm light on a screen 1.0 m away and (b)
the distance between the ...
1
vote
1
answer
279
views
In diffraction, what exactly is causing the obliquity factor?
As I understand it, this is a factor we introduce (sometimes as $\cos\theta$, sometimes as $\frac{1}{2}(1+\cos\theta)$) to correct behaviour at an aperture when Huygens principle is applied (e.g. ...
- 787
1
vote
0
answers
63
views
Refraction and diffraction [closed]
Huygens principle. can we accordingly define refraction to be diffraction from an infinitesimal length slit?
According to Huygens principle, sticking to classical physics terms. as long as slit ...
- 136
0
votes
0
answers
45
views
Geometrical optics - phase considerations
I pasted the whole fragment from the book "Teaching Physics by Laurance Viennot". I generally understand this fragment. However, I am not sure if I understand what author means by the phase ...
- 307
0
votes
1
answer
102
views
Huygens' Principle and Reflection
I was hoping to ask a question about Huygens' principle, which I am using to understand diffraction and reflection. I have seen videos and websites like these that explain why Huygen's principle leads ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
188
views
How can a lens satisfy the Fraunhofer diffraction condition by making a distance negative?
There has been a bit of discussion about this already, however, my question arises more from the mathematical requirements to allow for Fraunhofer diffraction proposed by Born and Wolf's optics book.
...
- 207
1
vote
1
answer
68
views
Show that an amplitude modulator gives a mirror symmetry in optics
In optics, we can use amplitude modulators as optical components to alter the amplitude of a wave. I'm currently working with simulating some propagations through space, and realize that an amplitude ...
- 334
1
vote
1
answer
138
views
What is the interpretation of this integral equation $\psi(x,t_2)=\int G(x,y)\psi(y,t_1)dy$ of the generalized Huygens principle?
I have came recently across the following equation
$$\psi(x,t_2)=\int G(x,y)\psi(y,t_1)dy$$
I want to understand its interpretation. Here is what i understand, I see that this equation gives the form ...
- 1,035
1
vote
0
answers
45
views
Is Huygens principle applicable in different mediums?
In the proof of refraction using Huygens principle, once the light hits different medium, it is said the position of light after 't' seconds in 'A' medium and 'B' medium should be on a straight line ...
- 111
2
votes
0
answers
83
views
What does Huygens' principle really say?
Until recently, I thought of Huygens' principle in the following way:
Define a wave front as a continuous line in space along which a given wave has equal phase at any given point in time. For ...
- 2,825
2
votes
1
answer
230
views
Huygens Principle and the bending of light
In the last section of Einstein's paper of general relativity (1916), he deduced the curvature of light when passing massive objects. It says from Huygens' principle, the light rays must suffer a ...
- 93
2
votes
2
answers
539
views
Fundamental solutions and initial conditions (for d'Alembert operator)
I would like to understand the plane wave solution for the (3+1-dimensional) d'Alembert operator
$$
\square = \nabla^2 - \frac 1{c^2}\frac{\partial^2}{\partial t^2}\tag{1}
$$
in terms of its ...
- 351
2
votes
1
answer
70
views
Why are there hemispheres in Huygens principle?
In the formulation of Huygens principle, it is said that the secondary waves are spheres but on the plots for determination of the wavefront there suddenly become hemispheres? What is the reason for ...
- 679
0
votes
1
answer
136
views
Confusion about Huygens Principle
According to Huygens Principle, the direction of propagation of waves will be perpendicular to the wavefronts. But I have Confusion in Fraunhofer's Diffraction due to Single Slit. Have a look in the ...
- 131
2
votes
0
answers
51
views
The fundamental relation between interference and diffraction [duplicate]
high schooler here.i was not convinced by the validity of the huygens secondary wavelets hypothesis and beleived that both interference and diffraction should arise from the simple wave equation $A=...
- 45
0
votes
1
answer
43
views
How To Think About Sharp Shadows In Terms Of Diffraction
I tried to implement difraction as explained here. I used the formula on page 4, right before the simplification to the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction formula,
$$u(x_0)=\frac{1}{4\pi}\int_A u(x)\...
- 103
1
vote
1
answer
500
views
Did Huygens understand light to be a transverse wave or a longitudinal wave? [closed]
We have this source that claims Huygens "assumed light to be longitudinal", which contradicts this source which claims "Huygens believed that light was made up of waves vibrating up and ...
- 369
2
votes
6
answers
483
views
What is the principle behind diffraction?
If we shine a green laser on a wall in a dark environment, we would observe a bright dot in the middle. Now, if we fix a grating just in front of where the laser is held, when the beam strikes the ...
- 121
0
votes
1
answer
95
views
Huygens principle and small aperture
Does Huygens principle depend on the ratio of the wavelength and the dimension of the aperture?
Do waves extinguish themselves by ratio 10 or more due to interference, e.g. will the wave pass through ...
- 679
1
vote
0
answers
48
views
Wavefront of a cylindrical beam of light
The given question states that a cylindrical beam of light with refractive index of the beam varying as u=A+B/r^2 where r is the distance form the axis of the beam. Now the questions asks us the shape ...
- 143
6
votes
3
answers
375
views
Why don't plane waves always expand according to Huygens' principle?
I have seen a few videos about Huygens' principle and I don't understand why a plane wavefront doesn't expand both vertically and horisontally. According to my understanding of Huygens' principle, ...
- 61
1
vote
2
answers
202
views
About the existence of secondary wavelets
Huygens principle said that "all point in a wavefront may be considered as a new source of wavelets, the tangent of these wavelets will form new wavefront,but,if we do experiments like creating ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
41
views
Recovering planar wave from Huygens principle
I am trying to get a basic understanding of the Huygens principle, by checking whether a planar wave is the same as what is calculated from the principle when the wave reaches a screen.
...
- 169
3
votes
0
answers
50
views
Composition of free space propagation and Huygens' principle
With paraxial approximation, the free space propagation operator with distance $d$ boils down to
\begin{align}
(\mathcal{R}_df)(x,y)= \frac{e^{jkd}}{j\lambda d}\iint e^{-j\frac{k}{2d}((x-x')^2+(y-y')^...
- 131
1
vote
1
answer
167
views
How to explain double slit fringes experiment using the fact that light is electromagnetic in nature?
Huygens principle explains the double slit fringes experiment, by assuming that each gap (or slit) behaves as an individual light source, but according to EM (electromagnetic) theory, we can't assume ...
- 154
0
votes
1
answer
69
views
Does every point of secondary wavefront created from wavefront acts as a source of another secondary wavefront?
Huygens' principle states every point on the current wavefront acts as a source of secondary spherical waves. These secondary waves propagate outwards, in the forward direction, and a common tangent (...
- 1