Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026

10:39
Measurement of X-ray Beam Coherence along Multiple Directions Using 2-D Checkerboard Phase Grating
Published on: October 11, 2016
Negative refraction of a partially coherent electromagnetic beam
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA. mayukh@pas.rochester.edu
Optics Letters
|May 2, 2013
Summary
Negative refraction of partially coherent electromagnetic beams was theorized. This study shows negative refraction alters the beam's spatial coherence, offering new insights into wave propagation phenomena.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Electromagnetism
- Wave Propagation
Background:
- Recent development of a theory for positive refraction of partially coherent electromagnetic beams.
- Understanding the behavior of partially coherent electromagnetic beams is crucial in various optical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and discuss the theory of negative refraction for partially coherent electromagnetic beams.
- To investigate the impact of negative refraction on the spatial coherence of these beams.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of electromagnetic wave propagation.
- Mathematical modeling of partially coherent beams under negative refraction conditions.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that negative refraction can be theoretically described for partially coherent electromagnetic beams.
- Showcased that negative refraction induces changes in the spatial coherence properties of the beam.
Conclusions:
- Negative refraction is a viable phenomenon for partially coherent electromagnetic beams.
- The interaction of negative refraction with partially coherent beams leads to significant modifications in their coherence characteristics.
Related Concept Videos
Interference and Diffraction
Interference is a characteristic phenomenon exhibited by waves. When two electromagnetic waves interact with their peaks and troughs coinciding, a resulting wave with enhanced amplitude is produced. This is known as constructive interference. In this case, the two waves interacting are in phase with each other.
Propagation of Waves
When a wave propagates from one medium to another, part of it may get reflected in the first medium, and part of it may get transmitted to the second medium. In such a case, the interface of the two mediums can be considered as a boundary that is neither fixed nor free.
Consider a scenario where a wave propagates from a string of low linear mass density to a string of high linear mass density. In such a case, the reflected wave is out of phase with respect to the incident wave, however the...
Consider a scenario where a wave propagates from a string of low linear mass density to a string of high linear mass density. In such a case, the reflected wave is out of phase with respect to the incident wave, however the...
Focusing of Light in the Eye
Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...
Reflection of Waves
When a wave travels from one medium to another, it gets reflected at the boundary of the second medium. A common example of this is when a person yells at a distance from a cliff and hears the echo of their voice. The sound waves (longitudinal waves) traveling in the air are reflected from the bounding cliff. Similarly, flipping one end of a string whose other end is tied to a wall causes a pulse (transverse wave) to travel through the string, which gets reflected upon reaching the wall. In...
Electromagnetic Waves in Matter
Electromagnetic waves can travel in the vacuum as well as in matter. For example light, which is an electromagnetic wave, can travel through air, water, or glass.
Consider the electromagnetic wave passing through a dielectric medium. In such a case, Maxwell's equations get modified. In Ampere's law, ε0 , the dielectric permittivity of free space is replaced with ε, the permittivity of dielectric. Also, the vacuum permeability μ0 is replaced by the permeability of the medium, μ.
Furthermore, the...
Consider the electromagnetic wave passing through a dielectric medium. In such a case, Maxwell's equations get modified. In Ampere's law, ε0 , the dielectric permittivity of free space is replaced with ε, the permittivity of dielectric. Also, the vacuum permeability μ0 is replaced by the permeability of the medium, μ.
Furthermore, the...
Interference and Superposition of Waves
When two waves of the same nature occur in the same region simultaneously, they result in interference. Interference of waves implies that the net effect of the waves is the sum of the individual waves' effects. However, it does not imply that the individual waves affect the propagation of other waves.
Interference occurs in mechanical waves, such as sound waves, waves on a string, and surface water waves. Mechanical waves correspond to the physical displacement of particles. Hence,...
Interference occurs in mechanical waves, such as sound waves, waves on a string, and surface water waves. Mechanical waves correspond to the physical displacement of particles. Hence,...

