Babinet's principle

noun

A principle that states that the diffraction pattern from an opaque body is identical to that from a hole of the same size and shape except for the overall forward beam intensity.

Meanings

nounBabinet's principle (uncountable)
  1. uncountablenatural sciencesA principle that states that the diffraction pattern from an opaque body is identical to that from a hole of the same size and shape except for the overall forward beam intensity.

Origin

Named after French physicist Jacques Babinet.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Babinet's principle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Babinet's%20principle

MLA

“Babinet's principle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Babinet's%20principle. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Babinet's principle,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Babinet's%20principle.

Source: Babinet's principle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.