Does a Light Pulse Undergo Phase Shift in a Denser Medium?

AI Thread Summary
When a pulse of light enters a denser medium, it does not undergo a phase shift; it merely slows down. The consensus is that the transmitted pulse remains unshifted, while the reflected pulse does experience a phase shift. This understanding suggests that there is no discontinuity as the light transitions into the denser medium. The discussion emphasizes the distinction between transmitted and reflected light behavior. Overall, the light pulse maintains its phase while slowing down in the denser medium.
oreo
Messages
81
Reaction score
2
When a pulse of light enters a denser medium(slow medium) then is there phase shift or rather it passes unshifted?
 
Science news on Phys.org
shayan haider said:
When a pulse of light enters a denser medium(slow medium) then is there phase shift or rather it passes unshifted?
Interesting question. I can't give an answer other than my opinion which is that it does not ... it just slows down a bit. To me, it seems as though a phase shift as it enters the medium would imply a discontinuity and I can't see that happening.
 
shayan haider said:
When a pulse of light enters a denser medium(slow medium) then is there phase shift or rather it passes unshifted?
There is no phase shift of the transmitted pulse. (There will be a phase shift of the reflected pulse.)
 
Thread 'A quartet of epi-illumination methods'

Thread 'A quartet of epi-illumination methods'

Well, it took almost 20 years (!!!), but I finally obtained a set of epi-phase microscope objectives (Zeiss). The principles of epi-phase contrast is nearly identical to transillumination phase contrast, but the phase ring is a 1/8 wave retarder rather than a 1/4 wave retarder (because with epi-illumination, the light passes through the ring twice). This method was popular only for a very short period of time before epi-DIC (differential interference contrast) became widely available. So...
View full post »

Thread 'Effective absorption coefficient of gold nanoparticles'

I am currently undertaking a research internship where I am modelling the heating of silicon wafers with a 515 nm femtosecond laser. In order to increase the absorption of the laser into the oxide layer on top of the wafer it was suggested we use gold nanoparticles. I was tasked with modelling the optical properties of a 5nm gold nanoparticle, in particular the absorption cross section, using COMSOL Multiphysics. My model seems to be getting correct values for the absorption coefficient and...
View full post »

Similar threads

180 degree phase shift of reflected light
Replies
2
Views
2K
Normal incidence of light on a denser medium
Replies
5
Views
11K
Refraction of Light: Myth or Reality?
Replies
41
Views
4K
I Light Refraction, Biconvex Lens, Diagram Help
Replies
9
Views
3K
Why does light take a longer path in a rarer medium?
Replies
9
Views
2K
Wave optics / Snell's law of refraction
Replies
2
Views
2K
Why does light move slower in a more dense medium?
Replies
16
Views
5K
(Question) Monochromatic light on refraction
Replies
3
Views
3K
Refraction of light in denser medium
Replies
2
Views
1K
I Relativistic Doppler effect and refraction
Replies
10
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top