book chapter · 2025
Optical interference
Jenny Magnes, Juan M Merlo-Ramírez
Cited by 0Abstract and details only
Abstract
This chapter is dedicated to the study of wave interference, its origin and properties. We begin by outlining the basic properties of waves and deriving the one-dimensional wave equation. Then, we find and analyze the solutions that describe standing and traveling waves in open space. The treatment is then extended to higher dimensions introducing the idea of wavefront. Next, we focus on the principle of superposition and show the interaction between multiple waves one and two dimensions. We analyze how phase shifts and wave vector orientations determine regions of constructive and destructive interference. The chapter concludes by linking these concepts to electromagnetic waves, deriving their governing equations from Maxwell’s laws and discussing the role of polarization in interference patterns.
Cite this paper
Magnes, J., & Merlo-Ramírez, J. M. (2025). Optical interference. https://doi.org/10.1088/978-0-7503-4836-2ch2
Magnes, Jenny, and Juan M Merlo-Ramírez. “Optical interference.” 2025, pp. 2–1, https://doi.org/10.1088/978-0-7503-4836-2ch2.
Magnes, Jenny, and Juan M Merlo-Ramírez. 2025. “Optical interference.” https://doi.org/10.1088/978-0-7503-4836-2ch2.
Magnes, J. and Merlo-Ramírez, J.M. (2025) ‘Optical interference’. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1088/978-0-7503-4836-2ch2.
@incollection{magnes2025optical,
title = {{Optical interference}},
author = {Magnes, Jenny and Merlo-Ramírez, Juan M},
pages = {2--1},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1088/978-0-7503-4836-2ch2}
}Made from the index record. Check names, capitalisation and page numbers against the paper. Need another style? AI for Research has over 10,000.