
What is a wavefront? - Physics Stack Exchange
"A wavefront is a contiguous region of constant phase". Wendy's choice of "crest" is just the selection of a particular phase ($0 \pm 2\pi n$ for wave represented with $\cos$ for instance), …
waves - How to determine the wavefront - Physics Stack Exchange
Mar 13, 2018 · The 'wavefront' is the furthest extent of the wave, which is governed by causality. The 'wavefield' includes what follows after the 'wavefront'. Google Huygens Principle to get …
wavefronts and wave - Physics Stack Exchange
Jan 17, 2018 · A wavefront is a surface where some particular condition holds. It is a locus of points. The wave is the whole phenomenon of a propagating oscillation. In theory the wave …
On the definition of ray (optics) and wavefront of light
Aug 6, 2022 · If so, how does the wavefront, to which it is perpendicular, look? As shown above with just the wavefronts defined the rays directed to the right but with the angular separation …
optics - How to determine aberrated wave front at exit pupil of a …
Jun 2, 2022 · Textbooks such as Goodman and others specify the wavefront aberrations at the exit pupil essentially add a ...
optics - What exactly is the physical quantity referred to as 'wave ...
Mar 30, 2021 · In physics, the wavefront of a time-varying field is the set of all points where the wave has the same phase of the sinusoid. The term is generally meaningful only for fields that, …
waves - Wavefront meaning - Physics Stack Exchange
Jul 10, 2019 · Join points on the wave which are in phase with one another, eg “crests”, and you then have a wavefront. Take another “photograph” of the wave a little later in time. Join the …
Why do wavefronts curve in diffraction? - Physics Stack Exchange
Feb 18, 2020 · So to sumarize, the wavefront is the envelope of the secondary spherical wavelets produced by the wavefront. Since this envelope is curved in the case of diffracted waves, the …
What is the distinction between a "ray" and a "wave" in optics?
Jan 10, 2016 · The ray is associated with being normal to the wavefront. However, the ray concept, energy flow, and wavefront somewhat breakdown when you're in birefringement …
What is meant by secondary wavelets? - Physics Stack Exchange
May 9, 2018 · Huygens postulated that since a wavefront is a line (more accurately a surface) made of 'disturbances' in phase with each other, each point on that wavefront can be thought …