In:
American Journal of Physics, American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), Vol. 74, No. 8 ( 2006-08-01), p. 722-727
Kurzfassung:
Although the ray concept is a useful tool for helping students visualize the propagation of light, rays do not produce diffraction, which is described by wave theory. Nevertheless, it is possible to retain the ray picture to describe a Gaussian beam if a suitable statistical distribution of rays is used. We transform the distribution using only ray propagation techniques (no wave theory) and show how a statistical distribution of rays gives an intuitive picture of a diffracting Gaussian beam as it freely propagates or is focused by lenses.
Materialart:
Online-Ressource
ISSN:
0002-9505
,
1943-2909
Sprache:
Englisch
Verlag:
American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)
Publikationsdatum:
2006
ZDB Id:
1472799-7
ZDB Id:
2947-6
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