Cecil Moore wrote:
So would you explain what happens to the reflections of a laser
beam when aimed at a perfect mirror in free space? Offset the
laser beam slightly from normal incidence to start with and
observe the reflections with your naked eye. Then bring the
beam to 90 degree incidence with the mirror. You can no
longer see the reflections but now you can detect the
superposition of the forward and reflected waves through
interference "rings" or loops with an intensity maximum
occuring every half wavelength and an intensity minimum
occuring every half wavelength in between.

Incidentally, there is a very good discussion of standing waves
in section 7.1.4 of "Optics", by Hecht, 4th Edition.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp

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