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). </dd>
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