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Whispering-gallery wave

What is whispering-gallery wave? A clear definition from the acoustics and sound section of our glossary, with 13 related terms, tools to try and further reading.

Definition of Whispering-gallery wave

Whispering-gallery waves, or whispering-gallery modes, are a type of wave that can travel around a concave surface. Originally discovered for sound waves in the whispering gallery of St Paul's Cathedral, they can exist for light and for other waves, with important applications in nondestructive testing, lasing, cooling and sensing, as well as in astronomy.

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What is Whispering-gallery wave?

Whispering-gallery waves, or whispering-gallery modes, are a type of wave that can travel around a concave surface. Originally discovered for sound waves in the whispering gallery of St Paul's Cathedral, they can exist for light and for other waves, with…

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