What Is the Wavefront of Light Waves?

A wavefront is a surface of constant phase in a wave, representing the positions of all points that are in phase with each other. In the case of light waves, a wavefront can be thought of as the leading edge of a beam of light.

When light propagates through space, its wavefronts can have different shapes depending on the source of the light. For example:

• Spherical Wavefront: If the light source is a point source, the wavefronts are spherical, expanding outward in all directions.
• Planar Wavefront: If the light source is far away or the waves are coming from a parallel beam, the wavefronts are flat or planar.

Understanding wavefronts helps in explaining the behavior of light, such as its reflection, refraction, and diffraction. The concept of wavefronts is central to the study of optics.