That is part of the definition of Coherence, which requires the phase relationship between the two waves to be constant at any location. Interference is basically the vector sum of the fields at a particular point. When the waves are coherent, the pattern will be stationary.McCannKay said:Do coherent waves therefore always have the same wavelength?
McCannKay said:I know to produce an observable inteference pattern two waves must be coherent(same frequency/phase differnce). Do coherent waves therefore always have the same wavelength? Is it possible to have interference between two waves with the same frequency and different wavelengths, and if so what whould that look like?
Is there not an essential difference here, between the linear process of interference and the non-linearity involved in frequency mixing (heterodyning)? Similar formulae involved in each, tho'.Andy Resnick said:This technique (heterodyne) is commonly used in signal processing.
sophiecentaur said:Is there not an essential difference here, between the linear process of interference and the non-linearity involved in frequency mixing (heterodyning)? Similar formulae involved in each, tho'.
Is that so that you have regions of high field where the non linearity works most? In an RF scenario, you would probably use a resonant cavity or even an LC circuit. I don't have any experience with Parametric Amplifiers so it's all a bit arm waving for me.Andy Resnick said:I don't think so- but let me expand a bit. Consider sum- or difference-frequency generation in an optical crystal. While this process (3 wave mixing) requires a nonlinear description of the medium, the requirement of phase matching relies on an interference pattern within the optical crystal.
sophiecentaur said:Is that so that you have regions of high field where the non linearity works most? In an RF scenario, you would probably use a resonant cavity or even an LC circuit. I don't have any experience with Parametric Amplifiers so it's all a bit arm waving for me.
Wave interference is the phenomenon that occurs when two or more waves meet and overlap with each other. The resulting wave pattern is a combination of the individual waves, which can either amplify or cancel each other out depending on their properties.
Coherence refers to the relationship between two waves in terms of their phase difference. When two waves are coherent, they have a constant phase difference and can produce a consistent and predictable interference pattern. Incoherent waves have a random phase difference and produce an inconsistent interference pattern.
The wavelength of a wave determines the distance between successive wave peaks. In wave interference, the distance between the peaks of the two waves is crucial in determining the type of interference that will occur. When the wavelengths are similar, constructive interference occurs, resulting in a larger amplitude. When the wavelengths are different, destructive interference occurs, resulting in a decrease in amplitude.
Wave interference has many practical applications, including in noise-cancelling headphones, where two sound waves with opposite phases cancel each other out to reduce ambient noise. It is also used in radio and television broadcasting to ensure that signals do not interfere with each other. In addition, wave interference is used in medical imaging techniques such as ultrasound and MRI.
The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves overlap, the resulting wave is the sum of the individual waves. This principle is crucial in understanding wave interference, as it explains how different waves can combine to form a new wave with a different amplitude, phase, and wavelength. By applying the principle of superposition, scientists can predict and manipulate wave interference patterns.