Md.
Kamrul Hasan Reza
Department of Physics
Khulna University of Engineering & Technology
Khulna-9203, Bangladesh
Tel.: +880-41-769468~75 Ext. 587(O), 588 (R)
e-mail:
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Welcome to my Class
Physics Ph 1109
11:45 AM
November 03, 2020
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Interference of Light
The phenomenon of interference of light has proved the
validity of the wave theory of light. Thomas Young successfully
demonstrated his experiment on interference of light in 1802.
When two wave trains act simultaneously on any particle in a
medium, the displacement of the particle at any instant is due
to the superposition of all the wave trains.
Young’s Experiment
In the year 1802, Young demonstrated the experiment on the
interference of light. He allowed sunlight to fall on a pinhole S
and then at some distance away on two pinholes A and B.
A and B are equidistant from S and are close to each other.
Spherical waves spread out from S. Spherical waves also spread
out from A and B. Interference bands are produced which are
alternatively dark and bright.
It is not possible to show interference due to two independent
sources of light, because a large number of difficulties are
involved. The two sources may emit light waves of largely
different amplitude and wavelength and the phase difference
between the two may change with time.
Coherent Sources of Light
Two sources are said to be coherent if they emit light waves of
the same frequency. nearly the same amplitude and are always
in phase with each other. It means that the two sources must
emit radiation of the same color (wavelength). In actual
practice it is not possible to have two independent sources
which are coherent.
But for experimental purposes, two virtual sources formed
from a single source can act as coherent sources.
Methods have been devised where
(i) interference of light takes place between the waves
from the real source and a virtual source
(ii) interference of light takes place between waves from
two sources formed due to a single source.
In all such cases, the two sources will act, as if they are perfectly
similar in all respects.
Phase Difference and Path Difference
If the path difference between the two waves is λ, the phase
difference = 2π.
Suppose for a path difference x, the phase difference is δ
For a path difference x, the phase difference = 2πx/λ
Analytical Treatment of Interference
Consider a monochromatic source of light S emitting wave of
wavelength λ, and two narrow pinholes A and B. A and B are
equi-distant from S and act as two virtual coherent sources.
Let a be the amplitude of the waves. The phase difference
between the two waves reaching the point P, at any instant is
δ.
If y1 and y2 are the displacements
y1 = a sin ωt
y2 = a sin(ωt + δ)
∴ y = y1 + y2 = a sin ωt + a sin(ωt + δ)
or y = a sin ωt + a sin ωt cos δ + a cos ωt sin δ
= a sin ωt (1 + cos δ) + a cos ωt sin δ.
Taking a (l + cos δ) = R cos Ɵ (1)
and a sin δ = R sin Ɵ (2)
y = R sin ωt cosƟ + R cos ωt sinƟ
∴ y = R sin (ωt + Ɵ) (3)
which represents the equation of simple harmonic vibration of
amplitude R.
Squaring eqns. (1) and (2) and adding,
R2 sin2 Ɵ + R2 cos Ɵ = a2 sin2 δ + a2 (1+ cos δ)2
Or R2 = a2 sin2 δ + a2 (1+cos2δ+ 2cos δ)
= a2 sin2 δ + a2 + a2 cos2 δ+ 2 a2cos δ
= 2a2 + 2 a2cos δ
= 2a2 (1+ cos δ)
= 4a2 cos2 δ/2
The intensity at a point is given by the square of the amplitude
∴ I = R2
Or I = 4a2 cos2 δ/2 (4)
Special cases :
When the phase difference
δ = 0, 2π, 2 (2 π ),……..n(2 π )
Or the path difference x = 0, λ, 2 λ , . . . n λ .
I = 4a2
Intensity is maximum when the phase difference is a whole
number multiple of 2 π or the path difference is a whole
number multiple of wavelength.
When the phase difference
δ = 0, 3π, 5π,……..(2n+1) π
I =0
Intensity is minimum when the path difference is an odd
number multiple of half wavelength.
Energy distribution
it is found that the intensity at bright points is 4a2 and at dark
points it is zero. According to the law of conservation of energy,
the energy cannot be destroyed. Here also the energy is not
destroyed but only transferred from the points of minimum
intensity to the points of maximum intensity.
For, at bright points, the intensity due to the two waves should
be 2a2 but actually it is 4a2. But, the intensity varies from 0 to
4a2, and the average is still 2a2.
Theory of Interference Fringes
Consider a narrow monochromatic source S and two pinholes
A and B equidistant from S. A and B act as two coherent
sources separated by a distance d. Let a screen be placed at a
distance D from the coherent sources. The point C on the
screen is equidistant from A and B. Therefore, the path
difference between the two waves is zero. Thus the point C
has maximum intensity.
Consider a point P at a distance x from C. The waves reach at
the point P from A and B.
(5)
(6)
Bright fringes: If the path difference is a whole number
multiple of wavelength λ, the point P is bright
(7)
This equation gives the distances of the bright fringes from
the point C. At C, the path difference is zero and a bright
fringe is formed.
Therefore the distance between any two consecutive bright
fringes.
(8)
Dark fringes: If the path difference is an odd number
multiple of half Wavelength, the point P is dark.
(9)
This equation gives the distances of the dark fringes from
the point C.
The distance between any two consecutive dark fringes.
(10)
The distance between any two consecutive bright or dark
fringes is known as fringe width. Therefore, alternately
bright and dark parallel fringes are formed. The fringes are
formed on both sides of C.
Fresnel’s Biprism
(11)
Determination of wavelength of light
Interference in Thin Films
Newton and Hooke observed and developed the
interference phenomenon due to multiple reflections from
the surface of thin transparent materials. Everyone is
familiar with the beautiful colors produced by thin film of oil
on the surface of water and also by the thin film of a soap-
bubble. Hooke observed such colors in thin films of mica and
similar thin transparent plates.
Newton was able to show the interference rings when a
convex lens was placed on a plane glass-plate. Young was able
to explain the phenomenon on the basis of interference
between light reflected from the top and the bottom surface
of a thin film.
Interference due to reflected Light
Consider a transparent film of thickness t and refractive index
µ. A ray SA incident on the upper surface of the film is partly
reflected along AT and partly reflected along AB. At B part of
it is reflected along BC and finally emerges out along CQ.
(12)
This equation in the case of reflected light does not represent
the correct path difference but only apparent. It has been,
established on the basis of electromagnetic theory that, when
light is reflected from the surface of an optically denser
medium a phase change π equivalent to a path difference λ/2
occurs.
Therefore, the correct path difference in this case,
(13)
If the path difference x = nλ where n = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 etc.,
constructive interference takes place and the film appears
bright.
(14)
If the path difference x = (2n+1)λ/2 where n = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
etc., destructive interference takes place and the film appears
dark.
(15)
Here n is an integer only, therefore (n + 1 ) can also be taken
as n.
∴ 2µt cos r = nλ
Where n = 0, 1, 2,3,4…..etc.
The amplitude of the incident ray is a. Let r be the reflection
coefficient, t the transmission coefficient from rarer to
denser medium and t‘ the transmission coefficient from
denser to rarer medium.
The amplitudes of the reflected rays are: ar, atrt’, atr3t’, atr5t’
etc. The ray 1 is reflected at the surface of a denser medium.
It undergoes a phase change π. the rays 2, 3, 4 etc. are all in
phase but out of phase
with ray 1 by π.
The resultant amplitude of 2, 3, 4 etc. is given by
A = atrt’ + atr3t’ + atr5t’ + ….
A = att’ r [1 + r2 + r4 + ….]
As r is less than 1, the terms inside the brackets form a
geometric series.
According to the principle of reversibility
tt’ =1 – r2
Thus the resultant amplitude of 2, 3, 4,…etc. is equal in
magnitude of the amplitude of ray 1 but out of phase with it.
Therefore the minima of the reflected system will be of zero
intensity.
Intensities of Maxima and Minima in The
Interference Pattern of Reflected and
Transmitted Beams in Thin Films
The intensity of the transmitted beam is given by (vide
theory of Fabry-Perot Interferometer)
Here δ is the phase difference, r2 is the reflection coefficient
and Io is the maximum intensity.
For values of δ = π, 3π, 5π etc.
In the reflected system, the intensity of the interference
maxima will be 14.79% of the incident intensity and the
intensity of the minima will be zero.
In the transmitted system, the intensity of the maxima will be
100% and intensity of the minima will be 85.2l%o. It means
the visibility of the fringes is much higher in the reflected
system than in the transmitted system. Thus the fringes are
more sharp in reflected light.
