What Is the Real-Time Form of the Incident Electric Field in a Plane Wave?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of the "real-time" form of the incident electric field in the context of a transmitted plane wave interacting with a plane interface. Participants explore the implications of this terminology and its relation to the behavior of the electric field over time.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the meaning of "real-time" in relation to the incident electric field, seeking clarification on its usage.
  • Another participant inquires about the context in which the phrase was used, suggesting that it may relate to scenarios involving time delays.
  • A different participant clarifies that the phrase was used in the context of a plane wave at an interface, where reflection and transmission occur, but notes uncertainty regarding the terminology.
  • One participant proposes that "real-time" might refer to the electric field at a specific point in space, implying that spatial variation could be disregarded, leading to a sinusoidal time variation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the meaning of "real-time" in this context, and multiple interpretations are presented without resolution.

Contextual Notes

The discussion lacks specific definitions for terms used, and the implications of "real-time" remain ambiguous, dependent on the context of the original phrase.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in electromagnetic theory, wave propagation, and the behavior of electric fields in different contexts may find this discussion relevant.

Ayame17
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When talking about a transmitted plane wave incident on a plane, ie.

[tex]\underline{E} = E_0 \^i e^\iota^(^\underline{k}.\underline{r} - \omega t)[/tex]

what is meant by the "real-time" form of the incident electric field?
 
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Where was this phrase used? Was it in a context where some kind of "time delay" make sense?
 
No, it was about a plane wave on an interface where part was reflected and part was transmitted...it had the angular frequency shown and then mentioned that from above, which wasn't a phrase I recognised.
 
Sounds like it is a reference to the E-field at some point in space, in other words, the spatial variation is being ignored (in which case one would get a sinusoidal variation in time).

It is hard to say though without knowing the exact context.

Claude.
 

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