EDW - edge diffraction wave, edge dislocation wave, or whether tertio est datur? (On the bicentenary of the Thomas Young's wave diffraction theory)

摘要

A dramatic bicentenary history of the Thomas Young's wave interpretation of diffraction phenomena is briefly outlined. Both theoretical and experimental milestones substantiating the Young's diffraction paradigm are discussed. Vitality and topicality of the Young's views on the nature of diffraction are argued. Relation of the Young's concept of diffraction phenomena with the novel decomposition of the solution of the diffraction problem in the spirit of 'singular optics' is considered.