Exploring light-matter interaction processes to appreciate various successes behind the Fourier theorem!

摘要

This paper leverages many successes of the Fourier theorem in modeling the measurable experimental data in the fields of optical physics while underscoring some of the misinterpretations by focusing on the light-matter interaction processes, which give rise to the measurable data. We are proposing that we need to introduce Interaction Process Mapping Epistemology (IPM-E) to complement the currently successful Measurable Data Modeling Epistemology (MDM-E). We show that IPM-E helps us recognize that EM waves cannot produce interference fringes by themselves as they do not interact with each other. Accordingly we have been missing the NlW-principle (Non-interaction of Waves). Application of the NlW-principle to Fourier theorem, as applied to optical physics reveals and helps us understand many optical phenomena much better than so far we have understood. We discuss Fourier optics, Fourier transform spectrometry, coherence theory, spectrometry theory and laser mode locking theory and summarize for each case, the deeper understanding that we have been missing by neglecting the NlW-principle.