Re: Eikonals

<DGoncz@xxxxxxx> a écrit dans le message de news:
1130269117.791878.198590@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> Here are some questions that may stimulate debate here.
>
> 1: Does light follow a geodesic or an eikonal? I worked out a simple
> case from point A in empty space to point B in a refracting medium, at
> an incidence that would not cause TIR. I found the path light would
> take to be the fastest, not the shortest path from A to B.

Yes, it's the Fermat principle. In the case of light, the action is the
time of travel. That can be proven mathematically by an interference
phenomena. Be it a geodesic or an eikonal, it's the same phenomena.

--
~~~~ clmasse on free F-country
Liberty, Equality, Profitability.


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