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1) Good question=the top source in both cases has one extra length through the beamsplitter over the source from the right, regardless of which direction it goes. The (phases of the) sources are assumed to be adjusted for any phase difference because of this. The relative phases can be considered to be measured at the point where the sources are each incident on the reflective (lower) beamsplitter surface.## \\ ## 2) Correct, but the answer to question (1) answers this. ## \\ ## 3) Yes. If you used energy coefficients, (energy coefficients work if there is no coherence, e.g. if the alignment is not precise and/or or the sources are not mutually coherent ), the computation says the energy split is 50-50 for each source=no interference. Meanwhile, Maxwell's equations, which govern the electric fields are completely linear (thereby the system is said to be linear), but since the energy equations (i.e. (energy) intensity ## I=n E^2 ##) are second order in the linear parameter ## E ##, the system is not required to be linear in energy. In cases where there is no interference, the systems are normally also linear in their energy properties.Chris Frisella said:Haha, yeah, that is a lot of data! Thank you for your help and energies. I follow it ok. Few fast (hopefully) questions:
1) So one reason for the phase offset between the two sources is one of the reflected beams has to travel through the medium twice, thus giving it greater phase change?
2) The actual amount of phase change is dependent on the width and material properties of the splitter, correct?
3) You say the reflection coefficient R can't be used to compute with when you have two sources. This is because the two sources interfere thus canceling out one of the reflected paths, correct?
Simple answers please! ;)
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