Hi, Ulrich: The complex EM fields may not be necessary in dielectric material or something else, unlike the cases in the quantum mechanics. However, complex fields may be required when you want to harness the dissipation(e.g., metal model). By the way, in EM theory, the cos-functions as a standing-wave solution are not utilized so widely as the exp-functions are, representing the propagating-wave one.
Yours Zheng 在 2007-09-16日的 12:55 +0200，Ulrich Dobramysl写道： > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Hi Steven & the list, > > I have a question regarding the use of complex fields in meep: How are > complex fields defined in meep? Since only real fields are measurable > quantities, what is the meaning of the imaginary part? Is it similar to > use exp(i\omega t - kr) instead of cos(\omega t - kr) in the ansatz for > the wave equation and then using only the real part as a physical result? > Is it correct to interpret the angle of the complex field as the phase > that is propagated along with the physical field value? > > Thanks, > > Ulrich Dobramysl > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v2.0.6 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > iD8DBQFG7QuSvlTvENIKkvMRAjzJAJ4+TBZk4faIkUmolwKJs8fd+ZPuGQCeIAGe > RtMGHrwkSKF0I5eUYnhke0I= > =RVKO > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > _______________________________________________ > meep-discuss mailing list > meep-discuss@ab-initio.mit.edu > http://ab-initio.mit.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/meep-discuss > _______________________________________________ meep-discuss mailing list meep-discuss@ab-initio.mit.edu http://ab-initio.mit.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/meep-discuss
