arXiv · 0909.2302
Energy flow lines and the spot of Poisson-Arago
Abstract
We show how energy flow lines answer the question about diffraction phenomena presented in 1818 by the French Academy: "deduce by mathematical induction, the movements of the rays during their crossing near the bodies". This provides a complementary answer to Fresnel's wave theory of light. A numerical simulation of these energy flow lines proves that they can reach the bright spot of Poisson-Arago in the shadow center of a circular opaque disc. For a monochromatic wave in vacuum, these energy flow lines correspond to the diffracted rays of Newton's Opticks.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Michel Gondran, Alexandre Gondran. 2009-09-12. Energy flow lines and the spot of Poisson-Arago. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.3291215
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.