SINCE atmospheric refraction plays an important part in the bending of ultra–short radio waves round the surface of the earth, an adequate study of the propagation of these waves requires a ...

Refraction is the change in direction of a wave as it travels from one medium to another. For instance, when light travels from air to glass or water waves travel from deep to shallow water.

A ray diagram showing refraction at the boundary between air and glass Refraction can cause optical illusions as the light waves appear to come from a different position to their actual source.

As the radio waves pass through the interstellar medium, they are distorted and delayed by a variety of optical effects, including dispersion, scattering, scintillation, and refraction. Our members ...