In physics, the terms "partial wave" and "complete wave" are often used in the context of wave analysis, particularly in the study of waves in quantum mechanics and wave mechanics.
A partial wave refers to a specific component of a wave's overall behavior. When a wave is analyzed, it can often be decomposed into a sum of simpler wave components or modes. Each of these individual components is referred to as a partial wave. These partial waves may have different frequencies, wavelengths, amplitudes, or other properties, and their combination gives rise to the overall wave behavior.
In the context of quantum mechanics, partial waves are often used to describe the angular momentum states of particles, such as electrons. These states are represented by wavefunctions, which can be decomposed into partial waves characterized by specific quantum numbers.
On the other hand, a complete wave typically refers to the entire wave, including all its components or partial waves. It represents the full description of the wave phenomenon under consideration.
To summarize, a partial wave refers to a specific component or mode of a wave, while a complete wave represents the entire wave, including all its partial waves. The distinction between the two terms lies in their scope: partial wave refers to a specific part or mode, while complete wave refers to the whole.