Something called wavevector, k

[Alice Jin]

something called "wavevector, k"

Dear,

I have a question about something called "wavevector, k".
What is it? Is that the direction of propagation of light? or something else?
Please explain easily. Thank you in advance.

 

[malawi_glenn]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_vector

 

[Petar Mali]

Dear,

I have a question about something called "wavevector, k".
What is it? Is that the direction of propagation of light? or something else?
Please explain easily. Thank you in advance.

You have some coordinate space. The Fourier transformation space of this coordinate space is K-space which elements are wave vectors. Exaple for this you have in crystalography. Crystal which you can put in you're hand is in real space. When you use some difraction method you will get some film. That film is K-space.

 

[malawi_glenn]

And K-space is momentum space.