Optical field

Optical field

The optical field is a term used in physics and vector calculus to designate the electric field shown as E in the electromagnetic wave equation which can be derived from Maxwell's Equations. In electromagnetic theory, the electromagnetic wave propagates such that both the magnetic field oscillation, and the electric field oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. As with any wave, the electromagnetic wave transports energy, thus the total energy density is shared between the constituent electric and magnetic fields. Since the electric field is considerably more effective at exerting forces and doing work on charges than the magnetic field, the electric field E is referred to as the optical field.



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Optical tweezers — (originally called single beam gradient force trap ) are scientific instruments that use a highly focused laser beam to provide an attractive or repulsive force (typically on the order of piconewtons), depending on the refractive index mismatch… …   Wikipedia

  • Optical vortex — An optical vortex (also known as a screw dislocation or phase singularity) is a zero of an optical field, a point of zero intensity. Research into the properties of vortices has thrived since a comprehensive paper by Nye and Berry, in 1974,[1]… …   Wikipedia

  • Optical amplifier — An optical amplifier is a device that amplifies an optical signal directly, without the need to first convert it to an electrical signal. An optical amplifier may be thought of as a laser without an optical cavity, or one in which feedback from… …   Wikipedia

  • Optical coherence tomography — Intervention Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) image of a sarcoma MeSH …   Wikipedia

  • Optical heterodyne detection — is an important special case of heterodyne detection. In heterodyne detection, a signal of interest at some frequency is non linearly mixed with a reference local oscillator (LO) that is set at a close by frequency. The desired outcome is the… …   Wikipedia

  • Optical sectioning — is the process by which a suitably designed microscope can produce clear images of a focal planes deep within a thick sample. This is used to reduce the need for thin sectioning using instruments such as the microtome. Many different techniques… …   Wikipedia

  • Optical phase space — Optical phase diagram of a coherent state s distribution across phase space. In quantum optics, an optical phase space is a phase space in which all quantum states of an optical system are described. Each point in the optical phase space… …   Wikipedia

  • Optical Society — Type Professional organization Founded 1916 Location Washington, DC, United States Origins Founded by optical scientists in 1916 under the leadership of Perley G. Nutting Key people Christopher Dainty (President) …   Wikipedia

  • Optical physics — Optical physics, or optical science, is a subfield of atomic, molecular, and optical physics. It is the study of the generation of electromagnetic radiation, the properties of that radiation, and the interaction of that radiation with matter,… …   Wikipedia

  • Optical power meter — in use An optical power meter (OPM) is a device used to measure the power in an optical signal. The term usually refers to a device for testing average power in fiber optic systems. Other general purpose light power measuring devices are usually… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”