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Wave numbers and wave vectors play an essential role in optics and the physics of wave scattering, such as X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, electron diffraction, and elementary particle physics. For quantum mechanical waves, the wavenumber multiplied by the reduced Planck constant is the canonical momentum. Wavenumber can be used to ...
Phase velocity is the rate at which the phase of the wave propagates in space: any given phase of the wave (for example, the crest) will appear to travel at the phase velocity. The phase velocity is given in terms of the wavelength λ (lambda) and period T as v p = λ T . {\displaystyle v_{\mathrm {p} }={\frac {\lambda }{T}}.}
Phase velocity, the velocity at which a wave phase propagates; Pulse wave velocity, the velocity at which a pulse travels through a medium, usually applied to arteries as a measure of arterial stiffness; Group velocity, the propagation velocity for the envelope of wave groups and often of wave energy, different from the phase velocity for ...
For a monochromatic propagating electromagnetic wave, such as a plane wave or a Gaussian beam, if E is the complex amplitude of the electric field, then the time-averaged energy density of the wave, travelling in a non-magnetic material, is given by: = | |, and the local intensity is obtained by multiplying this expression by the wave velocity
Frequency dispersion of surface gravity waves on deep water. The red square moves with the phase velocity, and the green dots propagate with the group velocity. In this deep-water case, the phase velocity is twice the group velocity. The red square traverses the figure in the time it takes the green dot to traverse half.
The wave vector and angular wave vector are related by a fixed constant of proportionality, 2 π radians per cycle. It is common in several fields of physics to refer to the angular wave vector simply as the wave vector, in contrast to, for example, crystallography. [1] [2] It is also common to use the symbol k for whichever is in use.
Propagation of a wave packet demonstrating a phase velocity greater than the group velocity. This shows a wave with the group velocity and phase velocity going in different directions. The group velocity is positive, while the phase velocity is negative. [1] The phase velocity of a wave is the rate at which the wave propagates in any medium.
It is possible to calculate the group velocity from the refractive-index curve n(ω) or more directly from the wavenumber k = ωn/c, where ω is the radian frequency ω = 2πf. Whereas one expression for the phase velocity is v p = ω/k, the group velocity can be expressed using the derivative: v g = dω/dk. Or in terms of the phase velocity v p,