Journal of Optics
Waves, amplitude waves, intensity waves
Tiberiu S. Tudor
Abstract
The interference of two or more waves give rise, at intensity level, to another wave phenomenon, a second-order wave structure. The interference of different frequency waves is the frame in which this fact becomes most evident. A theoretical treatment of the interference of two homogeneous plane waves of different frequencies is given. The notion of amplitude wave is introduced. Ordinary interference and beating are discussed as special cases, in the frame of this general theory. Some experimental illustrations are given.