Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematical-methods-ii-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2015/5/solution
Past exam of the mathematical methods II course of the University of Oxford 2015 5 Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
For phase , a constant-phase point moves at the phase velocity . A narrow-band wave packet has envelope speed given by the local group velocity on its dispersion relation.
Since ,Use the in-medium wavelength , so . The velocity relation becomesThe stated increase of phase velocity with wavelength means . Therefore . The inequality alone does not provide their numerical values or guarantee a positive group speed for an arbitrary dispersion law; it fixes their ordering. For ordinary transparent glass in its normal-dispersion band, both are positive and the group speed is the smaller one.
New to topics? Read the docs here!