Bloch wave – MoM method the wave numbers in any of the 3 periodic coordinate directions. This can happen for example when the free space wavelength exactly equals the lattice spacing. This is a statistically rare occurrence in computational practice and corresponds to a propagation anomaly similar to a Wood's reflection anomaly for gratings. To compute bands of the crystal (i.e. "k"-"k" diagrams), successive values of frequency ("k") are tried - in conjunction with pre-selected values of propagation constant ("k") and propagation direction (θ & φ) - until a combination is found which drives the determinant of the matrix to zero. Equation (4.2) has been
Wave vector in directions other than that of wave propagation. The condition for the wave vector to point in the same direction in which the wave propagates is that the wave has to be homogeneous, which isn't necessarily satisfied when the medium is lossy. In a homogeneous wave, the surfaces of constant phase are also surfaces of constant amplitude. In case of inhomogeneous waves, these two species of surfaces differ in orientation. Wave vector is always perpendicular to surfaces of constant phase. For example, when a wave travels through an anisotropic medium, such as light waves through an asymmetric crystal or sound