Are you certain the problem statement specified "time varying" and not a spatial variation such as refractive index of atmosphere with altitude?arpon said:
No spatial variation.Bystander said:
I agree with your reasoning. By symmetry, there is no reason it should start curving one way rather than the other.arpon said:
A time-varying refractive index refers to the property of a material that causes it to bend or change the direction of light as it passes through. This property can change over time due to various factors such as temperature, pressure, and electric fields.
Materials with time-varying refractive index can include liquids, gases, and some solid materials. Some common examples include water, air, glass, and plastics.
When light passes through a material with a time-varying refractive index, its speed and direction can be altered. This can cause phenomena such as refraction, diffraction, and dispersion, which are important in various optical applications.
Time-varying refractive index has many practical applications, including in lenses and optical fibers for telecommunications, in sensors for measuring environmental conditions, and in laser technology for cutting and welding materials.
Time-varying refractive index can be measured using techniques such as interferometry and ellipsometry. It can also be controlled through the use of electric and magnetic fields, temperature changes, and other external factors that affect the material's properties.