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$Interference and Diffraction$ 02:18

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.

Interference and Superposition of Waves

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,...

Sound Waves: Interference

Sound Waves: Interference

Sound waves can be modeled either as longitudinal waves, wherein the molecules of the medium oscillate around an equilibrium position, or as pressure waves. When two identical waves from the same source superimpose on each other, the combination of two crests or two troughs results in amplitude reinforcement known as constructive interference. If two identical waves, that are initially in phase, become out of phase because of different path lengths, the combination of crests with troughs...

Plane Electromagnetic Waves I

Plane Electromagnetic Waves I

The existence of combined electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space as electromagnetic (EM) waves is the most significant prediction of Maxwell's equations. As Maxwell's equations hold in free space, the predicted electromagnetic waves do not require a medium for their propagation. An EM wave comprises an electric field, defined as the force per charge on a stationary charge, and a magnetic field, which is the force per charge on a moving charge.
The EM field is assumed to be a...

Standing Waves in a Cavity

Standing Waves in a Cavity

A household microwave and lasers are examples of standing electromagnetic waves in a cavity. When two conducting metal plates are placed parallel at the nodal planes, it creates a cavity where standing waves are formed. The cavity between the two planes is analogous to a stretched string held at the points x = 0 and x = L. Here, the distance 'L' between the two planes must be an integer multiple of half of the wavelength. The wavelengths that satisfy this condition are given by:

Interference: Path Lengths

Interference: Path Lengths

Consider two sources of sound, that may or may not be in phase, emitting waves at a single frequency, and consider the frequencies to be the same.
Two special sources may be considered when they are in phase. This can be easily achieved by feeding the two sources from the same source. An example would be synchronizing the two speakers by feeding them with the same source, such as the sound waves produced by a tuning fork. This setup ensures that the two sources have the same frequency and are...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Spectral and Angle-Resolved Magneto-Optical Characterization of Photonic Nanostructures

Spectral and Angle-Resolved Magneto-Optical Characterization of Photonic Nanostructures

Published on: November 21, 2019

Multimode Interference of Bloch Surface Electromagnetic Waves.

Kirill R Safronov¹, Dmitry N Gulkin¹, Ilya M Antropov¹

¹Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia.

|August 19, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces Bloch surface waves (BSWs) for visible light integrated photonics, demonstrating multimode interference devices like Mach-Zehnder interferometers for sensing applications.

Keywords:

Bloch surface waves Mach−Zehnder interferometer integrated photonics multimode interference devices photonic crystals waveguide couplers

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Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons

Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons

Published on: July 21, 2018

Area of Science:

Photonics and optical engineering
Materials science
Nanotechnology

Background:

Integrated photonics commonly uses silicon-on-insulator or surface-plasmon polaritons, primarily for infrared applications.
Visible-range integrated photonics faces challenges due to material absorption and complex fabrication.
Bloch surface electromagnetic waves (BSWs) in multilayer structures offer a promising all-dielectric platform for visible light applications, especially in sensing.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the multimode interference (MMI) effect of Bloch surface waves (BSWs).
To propose and demonstrate advanced integrated photonic devices based on the BSW platform for visible light operation.
To establish the feasibility of MMI-based BSW photonics in the visible spectrum.

Main Methods:

Theoretical analysis and simulation of MMI effects in BSW structures.
Fabrication of BSW-based devices on multilayer dielectric structures.
Experimental characterization of MMI parameters and Mach-Zehnder interferometer operation.

Main Results:

The study successfully demonstrates the multimode interference (MMI) effect for Bloch surface waves (BSWs).
The operation of Mach-Zehnder interferometers utilizing MMI of BSWs with a controlled phase shift was proven.
Key parameters governing the MMI effect in BSWs were determined.

Conclusions:

The research validates the principle of MMI-based BSW photonics in the visible spectrum.
This work contributes to developing a versatile device toolbox for the BSW platform.
The findings are crucial for advancing integrated photonics, lab-on-chip technologies, and sensing applications.