- #1
Rattus_norveg
- 6
- 0
I've been told time and again that any beam of light (think laser) exhibits divergence no matter how perfect. This prompts three questions:
1) Theoretically, if a laser beam is emitted such that each photon is exactly parallel, (obviously more perfect than can be achieved in reality) does the beam still diverge?
2) Consider a single photon propagating through space. Does it still exhibit divergence?
3) Consider two coherent photons emitted exactly at the same time along exactly the same axis, do they exhibit divergence? If so, why?
[a note to those who will undoubtedly say the situation is impossible, and not worth considering: you're missing the point]
1) Theoretically, if a laser beam is emitted such that each photon is exactly parallel, (obviously more perfect than can be achieved in reality) does the beam still diverge?
2) Consider a single photon propagating through space. Does it still exhibit divergence?
3) Consider two coherent photons emitted exactly at the same time along exactly the same axis, do they exhibit divergence? If so, why?
[a note to those who will undoubtedly say the situation is impossible, and not worth considering: you're missing the point]