Light phenomena are commonplace for us so that, seeing their various manifestations, we do not even think about the essence of the processes.Share obtain information by the human brain is the phenomena of light reaches ninety percent, which speaks of their great role in our life.The richness of colors of the surrounding world, the blue tint of the sky, the rainbow, his own reflection in the mirror are the subject of description rather for people, lyrically minded than having a scientific mind.But among scholars and scientists seeking insight into the objects surrounding us and the phenomena they produce quantitative measurement and qualitative assessment found many willing to solve the mystery of light.
first explorers of light phenomena, whose works have survived, knew about the properties of curved surfaces.Euclid (300 BC) and Ptolemy (127-151 gg.) Were able to describe the laws of geometrical optics, but the practical application they have already received much later in the construction of the first points (1285), telescopes (1450), minutes (1595).
Further study of light phenomena forced to move from geometrical optics to the wave theory of light, the disclosure of which is known to us as the Huygens-Fresnel principle.Huygens first questioned Newton's theory and proposed to consider the light beam not as a stream of tiny particles of a high-challenge, and as a wave.The wave theory of Huygens not only fully confirmed the laws of geometrical optics, but also allows for a fresh look at all light phenomena.Taking the expression that each point of the medium in which the wave propagation, inherently become a source of secondary waves, Huygens was able to explain the principle of the law of reflection of light and other phenomena previously described by Newton's theory.But not budge explain the principles of the new theory of the concept of diffraction, and supporters of Newtonian views were so many that the debate about the true nature of light lasted for a hundred years.
explanation of the concept of "diffraction of light," the principle of Huygens-Fresnel by definition gives it a function of wavelength.The sound we hear behind the wall, the light bends around the obstacle is not and gives shade.But Huygens-Fresnel principle this example does not deny.Diffraction is inherent and light waves, but it is just invisible due scantiness value of the wavelength of light that the fix it was impossible, and only Fresnel was able to describe this phenomenon, it is also able to calculate the wavelength of light, which is polmikrona (half a thousandth of a millimeter).
make a significant contribution to the development and proof of the validity of the wave theory of light in the nineteenth century, Fresnel is considered one of its founders.His name entered the history of world science and foundations of the theory, rooted in the seventeenth century Huygens, called "Huygens-Fresnel principle."
Briefly summarize, the advantages of the wave theory of light Huygens is to explain many phenomena that Newton's version of the nature of light does not provide an explanation.Imposing light waves leads to the phenomenon of interference, darkened areas in the form of Newton's rings very great scholar could not explain.After all, according to his theory of light imposition of flows was accompanied by an increase in their forces.A manifestation of diffraction in the light wave was able to confirm his experiments Fresnel than completely dispelled doubts about the wave nature of light.
new look at the properties of the light beam, which is based on Huygens-Fresnel principle, gave impetus to the development of scientific thought.As a result, we have witnessed the emergence of such inventions as the laser (60 years of 20 cent.), Which has become a powerful tool in the hands of scientists, doctors, engineers.Photographers were able to create their own masterpieces using color filters, astronomers can study the composition of distant stars in the distance, and still many other areas of human life has been enriched with new views on the nature of the ordinary light beam.
