Wave Optics Flashcards
Maxwell’s eqs (+ free space)
∮ₛ E.dA = Qₑₙ꜀/∈₀
∮ₛ B.dA = 0
∮꜀ E.dL = -d/dt ∫ₛB.dA
∮꜀ B.dL = µ₀∫ₛ(j+∈₀ ∂E/∂t).dA
———————————-
∇.E = ρ/ϵ₀
∇.B = 0
∇ × E = −∂B/∂t
∇ × B = µ₀(J+ϵ₀ ∂E/∂t)
———–Free Space————————–
∇.E = 0
∇.B = 0
∇ × E = −∂B/∂t
∇ × B = µ₀ϵ₀ ∂E/∂t
Derive the wave equation in free space from Maxwell’s laws
∇ × (∇ × E) = −∂/∂t ∇×B
∇(∇.E) − ∇²E = −µ₀ϵ₀ ∂/∂t (∂/∂t E)
∇²E = µ₀ϵ₀ ∂²E/∂t²
OR
∇ × (∇ × B) = µ₀ϵ₀ ∂/∂t ∇×E
∇(∇.B) − ∇²B = -µ₀ϵ₀ ∂/∂t (∂/∂t B)
∇²B = µ₀ϵ₀ ∂²B/∂t²
Standard wave equation
∇²E = 1/c² ∂²E/∂t²
Plane wave
E = E₀ exp(i(k.r-ωt))
B = B₀ exp(i(k.r-ωt))
Wavevector
k = (kₓ, kᵧ, kᶻ) = (2π/λₓ, 2π/λᵧ, 2π/λᶻ)
What is a wavefront
Surfaces or loci of contiguous points on a wave, with the same phase.
Show that k is perpendicular to B (and E in free space)
B = (Bₓ, Bᵧ, Bᶻ) = exp(−iωt) (B₀ₓexp(ik.r), B₀ᵧexp(ik.r), B₀ᶻexp(ik.r),
∇.B = ∂Bₓ/∂x + ∂Bᵧ/∂y + ∂Bᶻ/∂z = 0
ikₓBₓ + ikᵧBᵧ + ikᶻBᶻ = 0
k.B = 0
In free space:
E = (Eₓ, Eᵧ, Eᶻ) = exp(−iωt) (E₀ₓexp(ik.r), E₀ᵧexp(ik.r), E₀ᶻexp(ik.r),
∇.E = ∂Eₓ/∂x + ∂Eᵧ/∂y + ∂Eᶻ/∂z = 0
ikₓEₓ + ikᵧEᵧ + ikᶻEᶻ = 0
k.E = 0
Derive relation between k̂, E, and B
Using ∇ x E = -∂B/∂t
and ∇ x E = i(kₓ,kᵧ,kᶻ) x E
-∂B/∂t = iωB
k x E = ωB
k̂ x E = cB
Poynting vector
Energy flux
S = 1/µ₀ E x B
Irradiance/ intensity of a plane wave
E = E₀ cos(k.r − ωt), B = B₀ cos(k.r − ωt)
S = (E₀ × B₀)/µ₀ cos²(k.r − ωt)
I = ⟨|S|⟩ =|E₀ × B₀|/2µ₀ = E₀²/2µ₀c = cϵ₀E₀²/2 = √µ₀’E₀²/2√ϵ₀’
(using E₀ = cB₀ and c²=1/µ₀ϵ₀)
Define η₀ = √µ₀/ϵ₀’
I = E₀²/2η₀
Radiation pressure from perfect reflection
2⟨|S|⟩/c = ϵ₀E₀²
Find solution to 1D wave equation
∂²ψ/∂x² - 1/v² ∂²ψ/∂t² = 0
factorise
(∂/∂x + 1/v ∂/∂t)(∂/∂x - 1/v ∂/∂t) ψ = 0
requires ψ= f(x-vt) + g(x+vt)
(right)+(left) travelling waves
Waves are sum of any function that preserves shape whilst travelling
Derive Helmholtz equation
∇²E = 1/v² ∂²E∂t²
General solution: E = Eᵣ(r)exp(±ikvt)
Sub in, compare sides
Eᵣ = -k²exp(±ikvt)
get Helmholtz eqn
∇²Eᵣ = -k²Eᵣ
note that kv = ω
can solve helmholtz for spacial part, then multiphy by exp(±ikvt) for full solution
Plane wave solution to 3D wave equation
∂²E/∂x² + ∂²E/∂y² + ∂²E/∂z² = 1/v² ∂²E/∂t²
solutions
E = E₀ exp(±i(k.r ± ωt))
Eᵣ = Eᵣ₀ exp(±ik.r)
Can be found using k.r = kₓx+kᵧy+kᶻz and ω = vk, where k² = k²x + k²y + k²z
Spherically symmetric solution to 3D wave equation
Spherical symmetry, so Eᵣ scalar, can drop subscript.
Spherical polar:
∇²E = −k²E =1/r² ∂/∂r (r² ∂E/∂r)
⇒ r² ∂²E/∂r² + 2r ∂E/∂r + r²k²E = 0
Bessel equation, its solutions are Bessel functions.
Simplest solution found by defining ϕ(r) such that E(r) ≡ ϕ(r)/r, then substitution into Helmholtz eqn.
Get solution A/r exp(i(kr±ωt)).
Amplitude diminishes with r.
Cylindrically symmetric solution to 3D wave equation
Cylindrical polar:
∇²E = - k²E = 1/r ∂/∂r (r ∂E/∂r)
Bessel eqn with no easy analytic solutions.
A/√r’ exp(i(kr±ωt)) is a solution IF r is large
Huygens-Fresnel principle
All points on a wavefront can be considered as point sources for production of secondary spherical wavelets. At a later time the new position of the wavefront will be a surface tangent to the secondary wavelets. The wavelets have destructively interfered in all but one direction to form this new wavefront. The amplitude of the optical field at any point beyond is the superposition of all of these wavelets.
Obliquity factor
Factor that prevents plane waves moving backwards.
½(1+cos θ)
Maximum transmission in direction of travel (θ=0°), none in backwards direction (θ=180°)
Optical path
If light traverses a distance l through a medium of refractive index n, the optical path is nl, or more generally
∫n(l) dl
if the refractive index is variable.
Fermat’s principle
A light ray going from A to B traverses a path that is stationary with respect to variations in path.
If a particular path has a “minimum or maximum or saddle point” optical path than all other paths immediately surrounding it, light will travel along this path.
In other words, a stationary point, or locally nonvarying region of optical path.
Four regimes of optics?
- Geometrical optics: interference and diffraction effects are ignored. Light propagation may be understood in terms of rays, which are perpendicular to wavefronts and along which the light is considered to propagate. It is valid when all the components considered are very large compared to the wavelength.
- Physical optics: the regime where the apparatus used is comparable to the wavelength of light, and under which circumstance interference and diffraction are noticeable.
- Electromagnetism: a full solution of Maxwell’s equations, without approximations made in physical optics.
- Quantum optics: the regime where the discrete nature of photons is important, particularly in interaction of light with matter, and the study of laser emission.
Refractive index
n = c/v
Derive law of reflection (Fermat)
Light propagates along a path between A and C, reflecting at B.
Path length:
l = √x² + y²’ + √(h − y)² + x²’
Fermat: path length must be
stationary with respect to the variable y
dl/dy = ½(x²+y²)⁻¹’² · 2y+½((h−y)²+x²)⁻¹’² · 2(h−y) · −1 = 0
y/(x² + y²)¹’² = h−y/(x² + (h − y)²)¹’²
SOHCAHTOA, equivalent to sinθᵢ = sinθᵣ, so θᵢ = θᵣ
Derive law of refraction (Snell’s law)
Ray refracts from medium of refractive index n₁ to a medium n₂. Wavelength p in n₁, meet interface at angle θᵢ. Wavelength q in n₂, meet interface at angle θᵣ.
Wavefronts perpendicular to the incoming and outgoing rays.
Time taken for light to travel distance p in medium n₁ must be the same as to travel q in medium n₂, as wavefronts must continue to meet at the interface (wave separation d).
p = d sin θi and q = d sin θr.
d sinθᵢ/(c/n₁) = d sinθᵣ/(c/n₂)
n₁ sinθᵢ = n₂ sinθᵣ