Calcite, the most common form of natural calcium carbonate (CaCO3), a widely distributed mineral known for the beautiful development and great variety of its crystals.
A wavefront is a surface over which an optical wave has a constant phase. For example, a wavefront could be the surface over which the wave has a maximum (the crest of a water wave, for example) or a minimum (the trough of the same wave) value. The shape of a wavefront is usually determined by the geometry of the source.
Background Essay. The physical definition of a wave is a disturbance that travels through space and transports energy. Some wavesâelectromagnetic waves (light)âcan travel through a vacuum. Other waves, known as mechanical waves, can only travel through a medium such as a solid, liquid, or gas.