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Symmetry and selection rules for wave‐wave interactions
Author(s) -
Harker K. J.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/rs012i006p00977
Subject(s) - polarization (electrochemistry) , physics , mechanical wave , nonlinear system , wave propagation , symmetry (geometry) , longitudinal wave , surface wave , classical mechanics , mathematics , optics , quantum mechanics , geometry , chemistry
Selection rules for nonlinear three‐wave interactions are derived on the basis of the symmetry of the background medium and the waves themselves. The process described bypasses the formal derivation of the coupling coefficient itself. The primary concern is with the effect of the polarization of the waves on the selection rules. Although consideration is limited to three‐wave interactions, the method is easily generalized to more waves. Results are derived for these examples: three waves with parallel propagation vectors in an unmagnetized medium, and three waves propagating parallel, and then perpendicular, to a static magnetic field.