s-wave and p-wave refer to the orbital angular momentum of the initial state.fliptomato said:Greetings--what is meant by "s-wave" or "p-wave" annihilation? I've been trying to figure out what this refers to by looking through the standard QM and QFT texts, but I keep missing this. Does anyone have a handy reference I can look up?
Thanks,
Flip
Indeed, I do not think this is where you should ask your question.zelrik said:Not sure I can get an answer here but at least I tried :p.
S-waves and P-waves are types of seismic waves that are created by earthquakes or other sources of energy within the Earth's crust. S-waves, or shear waves, move in a side-to-side motion and are slower than P-waves. P-waves, or primary waves, move in a back-and-forth motion and are faster than S-waves.
When S-waves and P-waves meet, they can cancel each other out through a process called annihilation. This occurs when the two waves have equal amplitudes and opposite directions of motion. The energy of the waves is then dissipated as heat.
Understanding S-wave and P-wave annihilation is important in seismology and earthquake studies. It helps us to better understand the behavior of seismic waves and how they interact with each other. This knowledge can also aid in predicting the potential damage and impact of earthquakes.
Yes, S-waves and P-waves can be artificially created through controlled explosions or other sources of energy. This allows scientists to study the properties and behaviors of these waves in a controlled environment.
Yes, there are other types of wave annihilation, such as transverse and longitudinal wave annihilation. These occur when two waves with opposite polarizations meet and cancel each other out. Wave annihilation is a common occurrence in physics and is seen in various types of waves, not just in seismic waves.