Intermediate Optics - PHYS 322

Spring 2023

Optics, 5th edition

PEARSON New International Edition
Eugene Hecht
Outline

7.1 The Addition of Waves of the Same Frequency Page 291

7.2 The Addition of Waves of Different Frequency Page 302

 Introduction

𝜕2𝜓 𝜕2𝜓 𝜕2𝜓 1 𝜕2𝜓

2
+ 2+ 2 = 2 2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝑣 𝜕𝑡

➢ Let us assume that 𝜓1 , 𝜓2 , … 𝜓𝑛 , are all individual solutions.

➢ Then, the function 𝜓 = ෍ 𝐶𝑖 𝜓𝑖 , satisfies the wave equation

𝑖=1
and is thus also a solution.
 7.1. The Addition of Waves of the Same Frequency
➢ Adding waves with the same frequencies

➢ Let us consider a plane wave: 𝐸 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝐸0 sin 𝜔𝑡 − (𝑘𝑥 + 𝜀) .

𝐸 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝐸0 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼

𝐸1 = 𝐸01 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼1

𝐸2 = 𝐸02 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼2

𝐸 = 𝐸1 + 𝐸2
 7.1. The Addition of Waves of the Same Frequency

𝐸1 = 𝐸01 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼1 = 𝐸01 sin 𝜔𝑡 cos(𝛼1 ) + 𝐸01 [𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑡 sin 𝛼1 ]

𝐸2 = 𝐸02 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼2 = 𝐸02 sin 𝜔𝑡 cos(𝛼2 ) + 𝐸02 [𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑡 sin 𝛼2 ]

𝐸 = 𝐸01 cos 𝛼1 + 𝐸02 cos 𝛼2 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝐸01 sin 𝛼1 + 𝐸02 sin 𝛼2 cos(𝜔𝑡)

➢ The last expression can be simplified:

𝐸02 = 𝐸01
2 2
+ 𝐸02 + 2𝐸01 𝐸02 cos(𝛼2 − 𝛼1 )

𝐸 = 𝐸0 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼 , where
𝐸01 sin 𝛼1 + 𝐸02 sin(𝛼2 )
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛼 =
𝐸01 cos 𝛼1 + 𝐸02 cos(𝛼2 )
 7.1. The Addition of Waves of the Same Frequency
Constructive Interference/ Waves are in-phase

𝐸02 = 𝐸01
2 2
+ 𝐸02 + 2𝐸01 𝐸02 cos(𝛼2 − 𝛼1 )

Interference term

➢ The crucial factor 𝛿 = 𝛼2 − 𝛼1 defines the resultant

wave’s amplitude.
Destructive Interference/ Waves are out-of-phase
➢ For 𝛿 = 0, ±2𝜋, ±4𝜋 … :constructive interference.

➢ On the contrary, for 𝛿 = ±𝜋, ±3𝜋 … : destructive

interference.
P7.1: Determine the resultant of the superposition of the parallel
waves 𝐸1 = 𝐸01 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼1 and 𝐸2 = 𝐸02 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼2 where 𝜔
= 200𝜋, 𝐸01 = 8, 𝐸02 = 10, 𝛼1 = 0 and 𝛼2 = 𝜋/3.
 7.1. The Addition of Waves of the Same Frequency
➢ Superposition of many waves

➢ In the same manner that we add two harmonic waves with equal frequencies, we can add
more using the mathematical tools presented below.
𝑛

➢ Assume the superposition 𝐸 = ෍ 𝐸0𝑖 sin(±𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼𝑖 ). The resultant wave will be equal to:
𝑖=1
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
2
𝐸02 = ෍ 𝐸0𝑖 + 2 ෍ ෍ 𝐸0𝑖 𝐸0𝑗 cos(𝛼𝑖 − 𝛼𝑗 )
𝑖=1 𝑖=1 𝑗=𝑖+1

𝐸 = 𝐸0 sin(±𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼), where 𝑛

෍ 𝐸0𝑖 sin(𝛼𝑖 )
𝑖=1
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛼 = 𝑛

෍ 𝐸0𝑖 cos(𝛼𝑖 )
𝑖=1
Example : Three parallel waves travelling together are represented by the following
functions: 𝜓1 = 10 sin 50𝜋𝑡 + 𝜋
𝜋
𝜓2 = −20 sin 50𝜋𝑡 −
2
𝜋
𝜓3 = 20 sin 50𝜋𝑡 +
4
a) Find the resultant amplitude for the superposition of the three waves.
b) Find the initial phase of the resultant wave.
 7.1. The Addition of Waves of the Same Frequency

Constructive General superposition Destructive

 7.1. The Addition of Waves of the Same Frequency
➢ Phase and path length difference

𝛿 = 𝛼2 − 𝛼1 = − 𝑘𝑥2 + 𝜀2 + 𝑘𝑥1 + 𝜀1
2𝜋 Destructive
= 𝑥1 − 𝑥2 + (𝜀1 − 𝜀2 ) Interference
𝜆
➢ If the two waves are initially in phase 𝜀1 = 𝜀2 : Constructive
Interference

2𝜋 2𝜋
𝛿= 𝑥1 − 𝑥2 = 𝑛 𝑥1 − 𝑥2
𝜆 𝜆0
➢ This latter term Λ = 𝑛(𝑥1 − 𝑥2 ) is referred to as optical path difference.
➢ Optical path length (𝑂𝑃𝐿) = σ 𝑛𝑖 𝑥𝑖
➢ It becomes easily understood that when Λ = 0, ±𝜆0 , ±2𝜆0 … we obtain a maximum
(constructive interference).
➢ On the other hand, when Λ = ±𝜆0 /2, ±3𝜆0 /2… we obtain a minimum
(destructive interference).
P7.6: Determine the optical path difference for the two waves A and B,
both having vacuum wavelengths of 610 𝑛𝑚, depicted in the figure. The glass (𝑛𝑔 = 1.52)
tank is filled with water (𝑛𝑤 = 1.33). If the waves start while in-phase and all the above
numbers are exact, find their relative phase difference at the finishing line.
7.1. The Addition of Waves of the Same Frequency

Standing Waves
7.1. The Addition of Waves of the Same Frequency

𝐸1 (𝑥, 𝑡) = 𝐸0 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡)

𝐸2 (𝑥, 𝑡) = 𝐸0 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑘𝑥 + 𝜔𝑡)

𝐸(𝑥, 𝑡) = 2𝐸0 sin 𝑘𝑥 cos(𝜔𝑡) - Standing wave equation

Amplitude at position 𝑥 Oscillating term

 7.1. The Addition of Waves of the Same Frequency

Nodes position (amplitude is zero)

𝜆
𝑥 = 𝑛 , for 𝑛 = 0, 1, 2, 3, …
2

Antinodes position (amplitude is maximum ±𝟐𝑬𝟎 )

AN AN AN AN AN 1 𝜆
𝑥 = (𝑛 + ) × , 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑛 = 0, 1, 2, 3, …
2 2
N

N N N N N
P7.15: Microwaves of frequency 3 × 1010 𝐻𝑧 are beamed directly at a metal reflector.
Neglecting the refractive index of air, determine the spacing between successive nodes in
the resulting standing-wave pattern.
 𝜋
P7.16: A standing wave is given by 𝐸 = 200 𝑠𝑖𝑛( 𝑥)𝑐𝑜𝑠(3𝜋𝑡).
3
a) Determine two waves that can be superimposed to generate it.
b) For 𝑥 ≥ 0, what is the location of the node having the smallest, second
smallest, and third smallest value of 𝑥?
 7.2. The Addition of Waves of Different Frequency

ത − 𝜔𝑡
𝐸 = 2𝐸01 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑘𝑚 𝑥 − 𝜔𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑘𝑥 ഥ ,

1 1
where 𝛼𝑚 = (𝛼1 − 𝛼2 ) and 𝛼ത = 𝛼1 + 𝛼2 .
2 2

𝐸1

𝐸2
 7.2. The Addition of Waves of Different Frequency

𝐸1

𝐸2
Carrier 1
𝑓ҧ = 𝑓1 + 𝑓2
2

𝐵𝑒𝑎𝑡
𝑓𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑡 = 𝑓1 − 𝑓2
Example: A tuning fork produces a steady note at 440 𝐻𝑧 tone. When this tuning fork is
struck, and held near a vibrating guitar string, 30 beats are counted in 6.0 seconds. What
are the possible frequencies produced by the guitar string?