How Electromagnetic Waves Pass Through Holes

[sophiecentaur]

Every face of the cage can be expected to have currents induced on it, actually, whatever the aspect, particularly when you have an open structure (imperfect).

To avoid confusion, I was discussing the face that is normal to the direction of the wave progress. This corresponds to the simplest treatment of the screen. Of course, the currents will be maximum in the plane of polarisation of the wave and currents will flow all over the face. Depending on the dimensions (in wavelengths) there will be an uneven distribution of currents with nodes and antinodes. Did I ever suggest that the currents would only be on a "vertical edge"?

 

[Born2bwire]

It should also be pointed out that a wavelength is both a temporal and spatial property. If we have a uniform plane wave, then we would see the phase of the fields vary in space over the distance of a wavelength in addition to the variation of the phase at a single point over the time of a single cycle. So the wavelength is not the distance between peaks in time (that would be the period), it is the spatial distance between peaks at a given point in time (assuming a monochromatic uniform wave).

 

[sophiecentaur]

I think you are taking a step too far with that one. WaveLENGTH is clearly a distance and Period is a time. They are different variables- hence the representation of a progressive wave as:

E = E₀Cos(ωt - kx)

And the well known relationship for wave speed:
c = λf

You can have an oscillation with no wave motion at all

E = E₀Cos(ωt)

Or a stationary 'picture' of a sinusoid:

E = E₀Cos(kx)