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Light Right-Hand Rule

Light is a transverse electromagnetic wave. The electric E and magnetic M elds are perpendicular to each E M other and to the propagation vector k as shown below. k, Power density is given by Poyntings vector, P the vector product of E and H You can easily remember P, E H. the directions if you curl E into H with the ngers of the right hand: your thumb points in the direction of E H propagation.

Intensity Nomogram
The nomogram below relates E H and the light intensity II in vacuum. You may also use it for other area E, H, 2 units, for example, [V/mm], [A/mm] and [W/mm ]. If you change the electrical units, remember to change 2 the units of I by the product of the units of E and H: for example [V/m], [mA/m], [mW/m ] or [kV/m], 2 [kA/m], [MW/m ].

Light Intensity
2 The light intensity, I is measured in Watts/m , E in Volts/m, and H in Amperes/m. The equations relating I to E and H are quite analogous to OHMS LAW. For peak values these equations are:

The quantity is the wave impedance of vacuum, and is the wave impedance of a medium with 0 refractive index n.

Wave Quantity Relationship

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