Oblique Waves and General Classification of Oscillations

Abstract

We have looked at simple examples of waves propagating parallel and perpendicular to the field. In both cases the electric field can be oriented either in the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field, or parallel to the field. These two types of waves are independent of each other. In the general cases of oblique waves the electric field necessarily has components both parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field. Thus these oscillations are much more complicated.