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Phase velocity
Reminders about complex numbers
The complex amplitude of a wave
What is a wave? f(x-1) f(x-2)
f(x) f(x-3)
In the mathematical sense, a wave is
any function that moves.
2 f1 f 2 2 f1 2 f 2 2 f1 f 2 2 f1 2 f 2
Proof: and
x 2
x 2
x2 t 2
t 2
t2
2 f1 f 2 1 2 f1 f 2 2 f1 1 2 f1 2 f 2 1 2 f 2
2 2 2 2
2 2 2
0
x 2
v t 2
x v t x v t
This has important consequences for light waves. It means that light
beams can pass through each other without altering each other.
waves spiraling
around each other
The solution to the one-dimensional
wave equation
The wave equation has the simple solution:
f x, t f x vt
u u
Write f (x ± vt) as f (u), where u = x ± vt. So 1 and v
x t
f f u f f u
Now, use the chain rule:
x u x t u t
And:
We might expect that oscillatory solutions (sines and cosines) will
be very relevant for light waves.
1D wave equation: some solutions
We showed that any twice-differentiable function can be a
solution, as long as z and t appear in the right combination.
E(z) at t = 0
E(z) at a later time
E z, t e
z 6t
And this is a solution: E(z) at t = 0
E ( z , t ) B cos[k ( z ct )] C sin[k ( z ct )]
kz (kc)t
E ( z , t ) B cos(kz t ) C sin(kz t )
1
where: c
k
Note: this is the Greek letter omega, ‘’. Do not get it confused with ‘w’.
Even more useful form for the solution
For simplicity, we’ll just use
E ( z , t ) B cos(kz t ) C sin(kz t ) the forward-propagating wave
for now, so no .
E z , t A cos kz t
A = Amplitude (we will see that this is related to the wave’s energy)
= Absolute phase (or “initial” phase: the phase when z = t = 0)
Absolute phase = 0
Absolute phase = 2/3
position, z
at t = 0.
z=0
Clarification: What does this graph mean?
Just as an illustration, here is the plot again for Absolute phase = 0
position, z
at t = 0.
z=0
E z , t A cos kz t
E
z axis
Spatial quantities:
x
Temporal quantities:
Temporal quantities:
t
c = / = f
YES.
Don’t confuse “the phase” with “the absolute phase” (or “initial phase”).
k = /x
Complex numbers
Consider a point,
P = (x,y), on a 2D
Cartesian grid.
P=x+jy
where: j 1
The controversy: i vs j
In physics: i 1
and j = current density
In engineering: j 1
and i = current
In this class:
We strive to be engineers and use j…
P = A exp( j )
where: A = Amplitude
= Phase
We have seen that the electric field of a light wave can be written:
E(x,t) = A cos(kx – t – )
E x, t Re A exp j kx t We often
write these
expressions
or without the
1
E x, t A exp j kx t c.c. ½, Re, or
2 +c.c.
E x, t A exp( j ) exp j kx t
where we've separated the constant stuff from the rapidly changing stuff.
where
E x, t E0 exp j kx t E0 A exp j
E0 A E0