Optics, electromagnetic theory Wave optics and diffraction Concept
Interference
Summary
Interference is what happens when two or more waves overlap: the fields add, so the intensity is not the sum of the separate intensities. Where the waves arrive in phase they reinforce each other, and where they arrive in opposite phase they cancel. The result is a pattern of bright and dark fringes that depends on the phase difference. Interference underlies interferometers, thin-film colours, holography and much of wave optics.
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| Tag | KX1EXRW47E |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://KX1EXRW47E |
| Kind | concept |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 78A10, 78A40 |
| Same as | |
| Changed | 3 November 2026 |
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