- #1
Pelion
- 35
- 0
Hi all,
(See attached image file)
Two mutually coherent and collimated light beams intersect as shown, creating the stationary 'bright' and 'dark' fringes of fig.A. Suppose that, after the fringe pattern has formed, we insert a very thin (compared to the fringe-width) and (ideally) perfectly reflecting foil, as shown in fig.B. It appears as if we can "cut the light beams in two, across an impassable barrier" yet the light beams persist and freely propagate!
Is this possible??
(See attached image file)
Two mutually coherent and collimated light beams intersect as shown, creating the stationary 'bright' and 'dark' fringes of fig.A. Suppose that, after the fringe pattern has formed, we insert a very thin (compared to the fringe-width) and (ideally) perfectly reflecting foil, as shown in fig.B. It appears as if we can "cut the light beams in two, across an impassable barrier" yet the light beams persist and freely propagate!
Is this possible??