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Explain the principle of physical optics and its role in optics, electrical engineering, and applied physics.
The principle of physical optics is an intermediate method between geometric optics and full wave electromagnetism. It involves using ray optics to estimate the field on a surface and then integrating that field over the surface to calculate the transmitted or scattered field. It is commonly used in optics, electrical engineering, and applied physics to estimate diffraction effects and model interference, diffraction, and polarization effects.
What does the term 'physical' signify in the context of physical optics?
In the context of physical optics, the term 'physical' signifies that it is more physical than geometric or ray optics and not that it is an exact physical theory.
What is the resemblance of the physical optics approximation to the Born approximation?
The physical optics approximation resembles the Born approximation in that the details of the problem are treated as a perturbation.
How does physical optics differ from the ray approximation of geometric optics?
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In what contexts is the physical optics approximation often more accurate than for radio?
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Which branch of optics studies interference, diffraction, and polarization, and for which the ray approximation of geometric optics is not valid?
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What is physical optics commonly used as an intermediate method between?
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What does the term 'physical' indicate in the context of physical optics?
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What does the physical optics approximation consist of using to estimate the field on a surface?
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In what context is the physical optics approximation often more accurate than for radio?
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