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The Photonics Spotlight

Light = Electromagnetic Waves?

Ref.: encyclopedia articles on polarization waves, nonlinear polarization

It is very commonly assumed that light is physically nothing else than electromagnetic waves. One then easily overlooks a wide range of essential phenomena which are also involved in many cases of light propagation. This occurs as soon as light enters some medium:

So we see that only light in vacuum can be fully described as an electromagnetic wave, while there is much more to be explored for light propagating in media.

This article is a posting of the Photonics Spotlight, authored by Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta. You may link to this page, because its location is permanent. See also the Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology.


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cover of print encyclopedia

The Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology is also available in the form of a two-volume book. Maybe you would enjoy reading it also in that form! The print version has a carefully designed layout and can be considered a must-have for any institute library, laser research group, or laser company.

You may order the print version via Wiley-VCH.

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This encyclopedia is provided by
RP Photonics Consulting GmbH.

You can get technical consulting from the author, Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta.

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