- #1
Steve Drake
- 53
- 1
Hi Guys,
I have two questions which kind of relate. The first relates to the complex conjugate of a function. Specifically, When a function is multiplied by its complex conjugate, what does that mean physically?
For instance, I am reading a book on electromagnetic wave scattering, and often they write the
[itex]I = E E^{\ast}[/itex]
Meaning the intensity is equal to the electromagnetic wave multiplied by its complex conjugate. Can someone just say in real simple terms what the em wave multiplied by its complex conjugate means?
Secondly, which leads on from the first question, I have a forumla that says
[itex]E(q,0) E^{\ast} (q,t) [/itex]
Which is the electric field (a function of scattering vector q and time) multiplied by its complex conjugate. What is confusing me is what does the 'zero' mean in the brackets of the first E?
Thanks for all your help
I have two questions which kind of relate. The first relates to the complex conjugate of a function. Specifically, When a function is multiplied by its complex conjugate, what does that mean physically?
For instance, I am reading a book on electromagnetic wave scattering, and often they write the
[itex]I = E E^{\ast}[/itex]
Meaning the intensity is equal to the electromagnetic wave multiplied by its complex conjugate. Can someone just say in real simple terms what the em wave multiplied by its complex conjugate means?
Secondly, which leads on from the first question, I have a forumla that says
[itex]E(q,0) E^{\ast} (q,t) [/itex]
Which is the electric field (a function of scattering vector q and time) multiplied by its complex conjugate. What is confusing me is what does the 'zero' mean in the brackets of the first E?
Thanks for all your help