PHYSICAL

&
QUANTUM
OPTICS

GENERAL PHYSICS 2
12-STEM
INTERFERENCE

– Occurs when waves of the same

nature from different sources meet
at the same place
– All types of waves exhibit
interference under appropriate
circumstances
INTERFERENCE

–Examples:
1) Water waves
2) Sound waves
3) Light waves
Constructive & Destructive Interference

– In constructive interference, the amplitude of

the resultant wave at a given position or time is
greater than that of either individual wave,
– whereas in destructive interference, the
resultant amplitude is less than that of either
individual wave.
– Light waves also interfere with each other.
 Conditions for Interference
1. The sources must be coherent—that is,
they must maintain a constant phase
with respect to each other.
2. The sources should be
monochromatic—that is, of a single
wavelength.
An interference pattern is
observed if sources are:

1) coherent
2) have identical wavelengths
Young’s Double-Slit Experiment

– A common method for producing

two coherent light sources is to
use a monochromatic source to
illuminate a barrier containing
two small openings (usually in the
shape of slits).
Young’s double-slit experiment

– two slits S1 and S2 separated by a distance

d are illuminated by a single-wavelength
light source
– An interference pattern consisting of bright
and dark fringes is observed on a viewing
screen
Young’s double-slit experiment
Young’s double-slit experiment

An interference pattern involving

water waves is produced by two
vibrating sources at the water’s
surface. The pattern is analogous
to that observed in Young’s
double-slit experiment. Note the
regions of constructive (A) and
destructive (B) interference.
Constructive & Destructive Interference

(a) Constructive interference occurs at point P when the waves combine.

(b) Constructive interference also occurs at point Q.
(c) Destructive interference occurs at R when the two waves combine
because the upper wave falls half a wavelength behind the lower wave.
Young’s experiment
 Example Problem
– A viewing screen separated from a double-lit
source by 1.2m. The distance between the two slits
is 0.030mm. The second-order bright fringe (m=2)
is 4.5 cm from the center line. (a) Determine the
wavelength of the light. (b) Calculate the distance
between adjacent bright fringe.
 Example Problem
– A viewing screen separated from a double-lit source by 1.2m. The distance between the two slits is 0.030mm.
The second-order bright fringe (m=e) is 4.5 cm from the center line. (a) Determine the wavelength of the
light. (b) Calculate the distance between adjacent bright fringe.

Sol’n:
Given:
m= 2 a) λ =[( y bright )(d) ] / [(m) (L)]

y bright = 4.5 x 10-2 m = [(4.5 x 10-2 m)(d = 3 x 10-5 m)]/ [(2) (1.2m)]

L= 1.2 m = 5.6 x 10-7 m

d = 3 x 10-5 m λ = 560 nm (green range of visible light)
Req’d: B) ym+1 –ym = λL/ d
A) λ = (5.6 x 10-7 m) (1.2m)]/(3 x 10-5 m)
B) ym+1 -ym ym+1 –ym = 2.2 x 10 -2 m
Interference in Thin Film

– (Left) Interference in soap bubbles.

– (Right) A thin film of oil floating on water displays interference
Interference in Thin Film

– Interference effects are commonly observed in thin films, such as thin layers of oil
on water or the thin surface of a soap bubble. The varied colors observed when
white light is incident on such films result from the interference of waves reflected
from the two surfaces of the film.
– A wave traveling from a medium of index of refraction n1 toward a medium of
index of refraction n2 undergoes a 180° phase change upon reflection when n2>n1
and undergoes no phase change if n2<n1.

– The wavelength of light λn in a medium whose index of refraction is n is

– Where λ is the wavelength of the light in free space

 Problem No. 2
Calculate the minimum thickness of a soap-
bubble film that results in constructive
interference in the reflected light if the film is
illuminated with light whose wavelength in free
space is λ = 600nm.
Problem No. 2
Calculate the minimum thickness of a soap-bubble film that results in
constructive interference in the reflected light if the film is illuminated with
light whose wavelength in free space is λ = 600nm.

Given: Sol’n:
λ = 600nm From Eqn: 2nt= λ/2
n= 1.33 t= λ/ 4n
Req’d: thickness (t) = 600nm/ [(4)(1.33)]
t = 113 nm
 The Michelson Interferometer
– invented by the American
physicist A. A. Michelson (1852–
1931),
– splits a light beam into two
parts and then recombines the
parts to form an interference
pattern.
– The device can be used to
measure wavelengths or other
lengths with great precision Figure 1
 QUANTUM
THEORY OF LIGHT
Quantum Theory of Light

–Certain features of the behavior

of light can be explained only
on the basis that light consists
of individual quanta or photons
Quantum Energy (E)

E = hf
where:
E= Quantum Energy (J)
h= Planck’s constant
= 6.63 x 10-34 J∙s
f= frequency (Hz)
Photons

– Has most of the properties associated with

particles
– It is localized in space and possess energy and
momentum
– It has no mass
– It travel with the velocity of light
 X-RAYS

– High-frequency electromagnetic waves

– Produced when fast electrons impinge on a target
– If the electrons are accelerated through a potential difference of V, each
electron has the energy

KE=eV
Where:
e = 1.6 x 10 -19 C
V= voltage/ potential difference
 X-RAYS

KE=eV
eV=hf
Electron kinetic energy = X-ray photon energy
Frequency of x-ray: f= eV/h
Problem Solving
Exercises
Problem No. 1

–The human eye can respond to as

few as three photons of light. If
the light is yellow (f= 5 x 1014 Hz),
Calculate the total energy.
 Problem No. 1
– The human eye can respond to as few as three photons of light. If the light is
yellow (f= 5 x 1014 Hz), Calculate the total energy.
Given:
f= 5 x 1014 Hz; h= 6.63 x 10-34 J∙s
Req’d: total energy
Sol’n:
Energy for each photon:
E= hf = (6.63 x 10-34 J∙s) (5 x 1014 Hz) = 3.3 x 10-19 Hz
Total energy: 3E = 10-18 J
 Problem No. 2

–In a certain television picture tube,

electrons are accelerated through a
potential difference of 10 kV. Find the
frequency of the X-rays emitted when these
electron strike the screen.
Problem No. 2: In a certain television picture tube, electrons are
accelerated through a potential difference of 10 kV. Find the frequency
of the X-rays emitted when these electron strike the screen.

Given: Sol’n:
V= 10 kV f= eV/h
e= 1.6 x 10 -19 C -19
= (1.6 x 10 C) (10kV)
h= 6.63 x 10-34 J∙s -34
6.63 x 10 J∙s
Req’d: f
f= 2.4 x 18
10 Hz
 Problem No. 3

–What is the kinetic energy in

electronvolts of an electron
7
whose velocity is 10 m/s?
Problem No. 3: What is the kinetic energy in
electronvolts of an electron whose velocity is 107
m/s?
Given: m= 9.1 x 10-31 kg
v= 107 m/s
Req’d: KE
Sol’n:
½ mv2 = (1/2) (9.1 x 10-31 kg) (107 m/s) 2
KE=4.55 x 10-17J
Problem No. 3: What is the kinetic energy in
electronvolts of an electron whose velocity is 107
m/s?

Sol’n:
Since 1eV = 1.6 x 10-19 J
KE= 4.55 x 10 -17 J
1.6 x -19
10 J/ eV
KE= 284 eV