Compressing Light: Reflection in Small Gaps

[Elbraido]

TL;DR

What happens when light doesn't have the space to complete a cycle?

Hi thereLet’s consider a photon of wavelength λ is being reflected across of gap d meters. The photon is a reflected back and forth between the same points on two horizontal sheets that reflect 100% of the light. What happens when the distance is smaller than wavelength?

Thanks

 

[PeroK]

Summary:: What happens when light doesn't have the space to complete a cycle?

Hi thereLet’s consider a photon of wavelength λ is being reflected across of gap d meters. The photon is a reflected back and forth between the same points on two horizontal sheets that reflect 100% of the light. What happens when the distance is smaller than wavelength?

Thanks

Radio waves have a long wavelength. Nothing special happens when they get reflected.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_wave

 

[PeterDonis]

What happens when the distance is smaller than wavelength?

It can't be. What you are describing is cavity radiation. The size of the cavity restricts the possible wavelengths of the radiation inside it.

 

[PeterDonis]

Radio waves have a long wavelength. Nothing special happens when they get reflected.

Reflection off a single reflector is not what the OP is describing. He is describing what amounts to cavity radiation. There are restrictions on the wavelength of cavity radiation.

 

[Cryo]

It can't be. What you are describing is cavity radiation. The size of the cavity restricts the possible wavelengths of the radiation inside it.

I guess it depends on how pedantic you want to be. You will have no propagting modes in a waveguide that is too 'narrow'. But non-propagating solutions can exist. Parallel-plate capacitor deep in quasistatic regime is an example that comes to mind.