Longitudinal mode refers to a specific mode of oscillation in which the oscillations occur in the same direction as the propagation of a wave. This term is frequently used in the context of waves in fluids and solids, including sound waves, where particles of the medium vibrate back and forth in the same direction as the wave travels. In more technical applications, particularly in optics and laser physics, longitudinal modes can refer to the standing wave patterns formed within a resonant cavity (like a laser).
New to topics? Read the docs here!