Huygens–Fresnel principle

E3970

diffraction theory physical principle wave optics principle

The Huygens–Fresnel principle is a fundamental concept in wave optics that explains how every point on a wavefront acts as a source of secondary wavelets whose interference determines the wave’s subsequent propagation and diffraction.

Observed surface forms (6)

Surface form	As subject	As object
Huygens' principle	0	4
Huygens principle	0	2
Fresnel diffraction	0	1
Huygens’ principle	0	1
Kirchhoff diffraction formula	0	1
Mémoire sur la diffraction de la lumière	0	1

Statements (48)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	diffraction theory → physical principle → wave optics principle →
appliesTo	electromagnetic waves → light waves → sound waves → water waves →
approximationOf	Maxwell's equations → surface form: Maxwell equations
assumes	linear, homogeneous, isotropic medium →
basedOn	superposition principle →
category	physical optics → theoretical physics concept →
component	complex amplitude of secondary sources → obliquity factor →
contrastsWith	geometrical optics ray approximation →
coreIdea	every point on a wavefront acts as a source of secondary wavelets → interference of secondary wavelets determines resulting amplitude → subsequent wavefront is the envelope of secondary wavelets →
describes	diffraction of waves → interference of waves → propagation of wavefronts →
explains	Fraunhofer diffraction → Huygens–Fresnel principle self-linksurface differs → surface form: Fresnel diffraction Poisson spot → double-slit interference → edge diffraction → single-slit diffraction →
field	electromagnetism → optics → wave physics →
historicalDevelopment	refined by Augustin-Jean Fresnel in the 19th century →
historicalOrigin	Traité de la lumière → surface form: Huygens wave theory of light
implies	light behaves as a wave →
influenced	development of modern diffraction theory →
mathematicalFormulation	integral over a wavefront of secondary spherical wavelets →
namedAfter	Augustin-Jean Fresnel → Christiaan Huygens →
relatedTo	Fresnel diffraction theory → Huygens–Fresnel principle self-linksurface differs → surface form: Huygens principle Huygens–Fresnel principle self-linksurface differs → surface form: Kirchhoff diffraction formula scalar diffraction theory → wave equation →
supports	wave interpretation of interference patterns →
usedIn	Fourier analysis → surface form: Fourier optics analysis of apertures and obstacles → design of optical systems → propagation of laser beams →
validWhen	wavelength is comparable to aperture size →

Referenced by (15)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Fresnel diffraction theory → basedOn → Huygens–Fresnel principle →

wave theory of light → basedOn → Huygens–Fresnel principle →

this entity surface form: Huygens' principle

Augustin-Jean Fresnel → contributedTo → Huygens–Fresnel principle →

Snell’s law of refraction → derivedFrom → Huygens–Fresnel principle →

this entity surface form: Huygens’ principle

Fresnel diffraction theory → developedFrom → Huygens–Fresnel principle →

this entity surface form: Huygens principle

Huygens–Fresnel principle → explains → Huygens–Fresnel principle self-linksurface differs →

this entity surface form: Fresnel diffraction

Fraunhofer diffraction → governedBy → Huygens–Fresnel principle →

Poisson spot → isExplainedBy → Huygens–Fresnel principle →

Christiaan Huygens → knownFor → Huygens–Fresnel principle →

this entity surface form: Huygens' principle

Traité de la lumière → mainSubject → Huygens–Fresnel principle →

this entity surface form: Huygens' principle

Augustin-Jean Fresnel → notableWork → Huygens–Fresnel principle →

this entity surface form: Mémoire sur la diffraction de la lumière

Traité de la lumière → proposes → Huygens–Fresnel principle →

this entity surface form: Huygens' principle

Huygens–Fresnel principle → relatedTo → Huygens–Fresnel principle self-linksurface differs →

this entity surface form: Huygens principle

Huygens–Fresnel principle → relatedTo → Huygens–Fresnel principle self-linksurface differs →

this entity surface form: Kirchhoff diffraction formula