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Re: wave momentum



Ludwik Kowalski wrote:
James McLean responding to:
... The crucial difference is that dB/dt vector (which is proportional
to E) is perpendicular to B while for the rope wave the dx/dt vector
(v of particles) is in the same plane as their displacements, x. ...

wrote:
True for circularly polarized E&M waves, but not linearly polarized.

The vectors of E and B are mutually perpendicular, even when the E&M
wave is linearly polarized.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. E and B are always
perpendicular, but for linearly polarized E&M waves dB/dt is parallel to
B. In general, dB/dt = -c curl(E), which may or may not be proportional
to E.

--
--James McLean
jmclean@chem.ucsd.edu
post doc
UC San Diego, Chemistry