Refraktiert

Refraktiert is a term used to describe a wave that has undergone refraction, i.e., a change in direction and speed after crossing the boundary between two media with different refractive indices. In optics, this occurs when light moves from one material to another, such as from air into water or glass. The change in direction is governed by Snell's law: n1 sin theta1 = n2 sin theta2, where n1 and n2 are the refractive indices of the two media, and theta1 and theta2 are the angles of incidence and refraction with respect to the boundary normal. The wave's speed changes according to v = c/n for light, so the wavelength changes as lambda2 = lambda1 * (v2/v1) = lambda1 * (n1/n2), while the frequency remains constant across the boundary.

Refraktiert waves exhibit dispersion if their wavelengths experience different refraction, producing effects such as splitting white light into colors by a prism. In practical devices, refraction is used in lenses to focus light, in prisms to disperse spectra, and in optical fiber communications to guide light.

Refraction also applies to sound and seismic waves, which bend when moving through media with different densities or acoustic impedances.

See also: Refraction; Snell's law; Refractive index; Dispersion; Total internal reflection; Lens; Prism; Optical fiber.