Related papers: Brewster angle as never seen before
The characteristics of backward diffraction radiation (BDR), i.e. radiation of the charged particle passing through a slit in the tilted screen, has been considered. The technique for non-destructive beam diagnostics based on the…
Gravitational lensing refers to the deflection of light by the gravity of celestial bodies, often predominantly composed of dark matter. Seen through a gravitational lens, the images of distant galaxies appear distorted. In this paper we…
A theory is presented (and supported by numerical simulations) for phase-coherent reflection of light by a disordered medium which either absorbs or amplifies radiation. The distribution of reflection eigenvalues is shown to be the Laguerre…
Although the observation of optical spectra is common practice in physics classes, students are usually limited to a passive, qualitative observation of nice colours. This article discusses a diffraction-based spectrometer that allows…
Dielectric mirrors comprising thin-film multilayers are widely used in optical experiments because they can achieve substantially higher reflectance compared to metal mirrors. Here we investigate potential problems that can arise when…
When does a course count as 'inverted'? When first faced with a new teaching method, deliberate lectures may want to test it without abandoning the advantages of the established method. Aftes the experiment they have to evaluate additional…
Recently Kastner has analyzed the issue of visibility in a modified two-slit experiment carried out by Afshar et al, which has been a subject of much debate. Kastner describes a thought experiment which is claimed to show interference with…
The utilization of time reversal symmetry in designing and implementing (quantum) optical experiments has become more and more frequent over the past years. We review the basic idea underlying time reversal methods, illustrate it with…
Ptychography involves a sample being illuminated by a coherent, localised probe of illumination. When the probe interacts with the sample, the light is diffracted and a diffraction pattern is detected. Then the probe or sample is shifted…
Students in introductory physics courses struggle to understand virtual image formation by a plane mirror and the proper construction of ray diagrams. This difficulty, if not sufficiently addressed, results in further problems throughout…
The mechanisms of the volume reflection of positively and negatively charged relativistic particles in a bent crystal have been analyzed. It has been shown that the empty core effect is significant for the negatively charged particles. The…
We designed a Physics Teaching Lab experience for blind students to measure the wavelength of standing waves on a string. Our adaptation consisted of modifying the determination of the wavelength of the standing wave, which is usually done…
How can we tell whether an image has been mirrored? While we understand the geometry of mirror reflections very well, less has been said about how it affects distributions of imagery at scale, despite widespread use for data augmentation in…
There are diverse teaching methodologies to promote both collaborative and individual work in undergraduate physics courses. However, few educational studies seek to understand how students learn and apply new knowledge through open-ended…
We consider the question of how mathematicians view themselves and how non-mathematicians view us. What is our role in society? Is it effective? Is it rewarding? How could it be improved? This paper will be part of a forthcoming volume on…
Unification of gravity with quantum mechanics is still a terra incognita. Photon polarization measurements offer a unique window for probing the interaction between these two fundamental forces. We have revealed that non-reciprocity in the…
With rapid developments in consumer-level head-mounted displays and computer graphics, immersive VR has the potential to take online and remote learning closer to real-world settings. However, the effects of such digital transformations on…
Following almost a century of debate on possible `independent of measurement' elements of reality, or `induced' elements of reality - originally invoked as an ad-hoc collapse postulate, we propose a novel line of interference experiments…
On the quest towards full control over wave propagation, the development of compact devices that allow asymmetric response is a challenge. In this Letter, we introduce a new paradigm for the engineering of asymmetry in planar structures,…
The area of inverse problems in mathematics is highly interdisciplinary. In various fields of science, engineering, medicine, and industry, there arises a need to reconstruct information about unknown entities that cannot be directly…