Difference between revisions of "Huygens Principle"
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Huygens Principle
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A very general principle applying to all forms of wave motion
which states that every point on the instantaneous position of an advancing phase front
(wave front) may be regarded as a source of secondary spherical wavelets. The
position of the phase front a moment later is then determined as the envelope
of all the secondary wavelets (ad infinitum).
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This principle, stated by Dutch physicist Christian Huygens (1629-95),
is extremely useful in understanding effects due to refraction, reflection,
diffraction, and scattering of all types of radiation, including sonic
radiation as well as electromagnetic radiation and applying even to ocean-wave
propagation. [[/a>|/a>
]]
References
This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use
