wavefronts
Advancing disturbance boundaries
Wavefronts is the plural of wavefront, a surface connecting all points of a wave that are at the same phase—the leading edge of a ripple spreading outward, or the plane where light rays arrive simultaneously.
In physics and optics, wavefronts help visualize how waves propagate through space: The laser produced perfectly flat wavefronts.
The concept extends to sound, radio, and other wave phenomena.
Coexisting in multiple states
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- constructivePromoting positive development
- destructiveCausing severe harm
- diffractionWaves spreading past obstacles
fringes · pattern · Michelson · holography · moiré · node · antinode · Bragg
Maximum oscillation displacement
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- phaseDistinct period in sequence
- periodicOccurring at intervals
- sinusoidalWave-patterned, mathematically regular
crest · trough · harmonic · cycle · modulation · coherent · incoherent · temporal
Seventeenth-century Dutch astronomer
- sphericalGlobe-like in form
- planarOf a flat surface
- cylindricalCircular in cross-section
- advanceMove or progress forward
spread · travel · expansion · emanation · progression · ray · beam · direction
Stepped-groove lens design
- lensLight-focusing curved glass
- apertureAdjustable optical inlet
- focal planeWhere lens forms image
- curvatureDeviation from flatness
aberration · collimation · laser · geometrical · refraction · reflection · polarization · transverse
Audible wave phenomenon
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- sonicRelating to sound waves
- acousticRelating to sound
- seismicRelating to ground tremors
sonar · audio · compression · rarefaction · Doppler · echolocation · reverberation · infrasound
superposition
Coexisting in multiple states
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- constructivePromoting positive development
- destructiveCausing severe harm
diffraction · fringes · pattern · Michelson · holography · moiré · node · antinode · Bragg · antiphase
amplitude
Maximum oscillation displacement
sinusoidal · crest · trough · harmonic · cycle · modulation · coherent · incoherent · temporal · spatial
Huygens
Seventeenth-century Dutch astronomer
- sphericalGlobe-like in form
- planarOf a flat surface
- cylindricalCircular in cross-section
advance · spread · travel · expansion · emanation · progression · ray · beam · direction · velocity
Fresnel
Stepped-groove lens design
- lensLight-focusing curved glass
- apertureAdjustable optical inlet
- focal planeWhere lens forms image
curvature · aberration · collimation · laser · geometrical · refraction · reflection · polarization · transverse · electromagnetic
sound
Audible wave phenomenon
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- sonicRelating to sound waves
- acousticRelating to sound
seismic · sonar · audio · compression · rarefaction · Doppler · echolocation · reverberation · infrasound · loudness
- opticslens, lenses, mirror, mirrors, prism
- holographyhologram, holograms, holographic display, holographic displays, holographic sticker