Can Phase-Shift Cause the 'Wave Train' Problem in Refracted Light Waves?

[danong]

I'm having a research topic regarding wave train problem, i read from the book stating that phase-shift could probably cause the 'wave train' problem.

However, from my perception is that, the reference frame is only at that particular instant;

For say I1, I2 both represent incident light wave at a medium;
the corresponding R1, R2 both represent refracted light wave after 't-1' & 't+1' time of penetration at different position but same direction,

So, here wave-train problem occurs.
Thus, interference couldn't be taken account on both refracted wave.

But i have a doubt in this,
if it happens continuously,
assume I1, I2 for R1, R2 in (t-1),
and again i1, i2 for r1, r2 in (t+1).

so could it not be possible that r1 interfere with R2 ? (the latter wave of the previous wave interfere each other, in the case of continuous condition? )



Thanks in advance,
Have a nice day. =)

 

[eljose79]

I would like to offer some clarification on the wave train problem and how phase-shift can contribute to it. The wave train problem is a phenomenon in which the interference pattern of a wave is disrupted due to a phase-shift between two waves that should be in phase with each other. This can occur in situations where there are multiple waves interfering with each other, such as in the example you mentioned with incident and refracted light waves.

The key concept to understand here is that the phase of a wave is not constant, but rather changes over time and space. In the case of light waves, this change in phase is related to the speed of light in different mediums. When a wave travels from one medium to another, the change in speed can cause a phase-shift, which can disrupt the interference pattern.

In your example, the incident light waves (I1 and I2) have a certain phase when they enter the medium, and after a certain amount of time (t-1 and t+1), the refracted waves (R1 and R2) have a different phase due to the change in speed. This phase-shift can cause the interference pattern to be disrupted, leading to the wave train problem.

To address your question about continuous conditions, it is possible for the refracted waves to interfere with each other (e.g. r1 interfering with R2), but this interference would not contribute to the wave train problem. This is because the interference pattern is already disrupted due to the initial phase-shift between the incident and refracted waves.

I hope this helps clarify the concept of the wave train problem and how phase-shift can contribute to it. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Have a great day!

 

[charng]

I can confirm that phase-shift can indeed cause the 'wave train' problem in refracted light waves. This occurs when there is a change in the phase of the wave as it passes through a medium, which can lead to interference and result in a distorted wave pattern. This can be observed in situations where there is a change in the refractive index of a medium, causing a shift in the phase of the light wave.

In the scenario you have described, where there is a continuous change in the incident light waves (I1, I2) and the corresponding refracted waves (R1, R2), it is possible for interference to occur between the waves. This is because each wave will have a different phase due to the phase-shift caused by the change in the medium. This can result in a wave train problem where the waves interfere with each other and create a distorted wave pattern.

It is important to note that in order for interference to occur, the waves must have a constant phase difference. In your example, the waves do have a constant phase difference (t-1 and t+1), so interference is possible. However, the exact outcome of this interference would depend on the specific conditions of the experiment and cannot be predicted without further analysis.

I hope this helps to clarify your doubts. As always, in scientific research it is important to carefully consider all factors and variables in order to accurately understand and explain phenomena. Keep up the good work in your research!