Propagation constant a conductor. The skin effect causes R along the conductor to be approximately dependent on frequency according to Losses in the dielectric depend on the loss tangent (tan "δ") of the material divided by the wavelength of the signal. Thus they are directly proportional to the frequency. The attenuation constant for a particular propagation mode in an optical fiber is the real part of the axial propagation constant. In electromagnetic theory, the phase constant, also called phase change constant, parameter or coefficient is the imaginary component of the propagation constant for a plane wave. It represents the change in phase
Wave complex waves cannot be determined from a sine-wave decomposition. A standing wave, also known as a "stationary wave", is a wave that remains in a constant position. This phenomenon can occur because the medium is moving in the opposite direction to the wave, or it can arise in a stationary medium as a result of interference between two waves traveling in opposite directions. The "sum" of two counter-propagating waves (of equal amplitude and frequency) creates a "standing wave". Standing waves commonly arise when a boundary blocks further propagation of the wave, thus causing wave reflection, and therefore introducing a counter-propagating