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Dispersion & Diffraction

  1. Nov 23, 2004 #1

    EIRE2003

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    Are they the same?

    Is dispersion only to do with light waves & diffraction for all waves?
     
    EIRE2003, Nov 23, 2004
  2. jcsd
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  3. Nov 23, 2004 #2

    Integral

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    The are different unrelated phenomena.

    Dispersion occurs when the "velocity" of light in a material depends on the wavelength. Thus different wavelengts of light are spread out upon emerging from the material.

    Difraction occurs when superpostion of phase related light waves cause variations in intensity.
     
    Integral, Nov 23, 2004
  4. Nov 24, 2004 #3

    arildno

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    Besides, these are features present in a lot of different wave types, not only light waves (water waves is a good example).
    Note that not only can we have the wavelength-dispersion mentioned by Integral, but also amplitude-dispersion
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2004
    arildno, Nov 24, 2004
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