wavefront
Synchronized oscillation boundary
A wavefront is an imaginary surface connecting all points of a wave that are in the same phase—the crest of an ocean wave, the expanding sphere of a sound pulse, the parallel planes of a laser beam.
In physics and engineering, wavefront analysis reveals how waves propagate, bend, or distort: The telescope's adaptive optics correct for atmospheric distortions in the wavefront.
Maximum oscillation displacement
- phaseDistinct period in sequence
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- HuygensSeventeenth-century Dutch astronomer
- diffractionWaves spreading past obstacles
propagation · coherence · superposition · interference · ray · optics · velocity · oscillation
Coexisting in multiple states
- constructivePromoting positive development
- destructiveCausing severe harm
- diffractionWaves spreading past obstacles
- fringesOuter edges or tassels
coherence · phase shift · interferometer · node · antinode · holography · moiré pattern · optical path length
Wave bending between media
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- lensLight-focusing curved glass
- prismLight-splitting optical element
- focal pointCenter of interest
aberration · curvature · spherical · Fresnel · beam · laser · polarization · dispersion
Concentrated light device
- granularityLevel of detail
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- scatteringDistribution in many directions
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
intensity · contrast · noise · randomness · correlation · autocorrelation · illumination · imaging
Audible wave phenomenon
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- sonarUnderwater detection by echoes
- echolocationNavigation through reflected sound
- transducerEnergy form converter
impedance · medium · compression · rarefaction · Doppler · seismic · shockwave · sonic
amplitude
Maximum oscillation displacement
- phaseDistinct period in sequence
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- HuygensSeventeenth-century Dutch astronomer
diffraction · propagation · coherence · superposition · interference · ray · optics · velocity · oscillation · period
superposition
Coexisting in multiple states
- constructivePromoting positive development
- destructiveCausing severe harm
- diffractionWaves spreading past obstacles
fringes · coherence · phase shift · interferometer · node · antinode · holography · moiré pattern · optical path length · wavelet
refraction
Wave bending between media
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- lensLight-focusing curved glass
- prismLight-splitting optical element
focal point · aberration · curvature · spherical · Fresnel · beam · laser · polarization · dispersion · transmission
laser
Concentrated light device
- granularityLevel of detail
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- scatteringDistribution in many directions
pattern · intensity · contrast · noise · randomness · correlation · autocorrelation · illumination · imaging · statistics
sound
Audible wave phenomenon
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- sonarUnderwater detection by echoes
- echolocationNavigation through reflected sound
transducer · impedance · medium · compression · rarefaction · Doppler · seismic · shockwave · sonic · audio
- wavesripples, surf, waveform, tsunami, ripple
- acousticssound, soundwave, vibration, resonance, amplitude
- wave opticsdiffraction, interference, interference pattern, destructive interference, coherence
- antenna arraysantenna array, subarray
- opticslens, lenses, mirror, mirrors, prism
- interferometryinterference pattern, fringes, destructive interference, beam splitter, coherence
wavefrontamplitude
Maximum oscillation displacement
intensity · energy density · magnitude · power · wavelength