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Diffraction due to single slit

x x
s M
b O
O

A plane wavefront of monochromatic light is striking a slit of length b.

Every point of b is acting as a secondary source of light.

Equation of vibration of secondary sources at all the points on the slit can be written as

𝑦 = 𝑎 sin 𝜔𝑡

Let ′𝑑𝑠′ element at a distance ‘s’ from O will produce a disturbance at P as

𝑎
𝑑𝑦 = sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘(𝑥 − 𝑠 sin 𝜃)) 𝑑𝑠
𝑥

𝑂𝑀 = 𝑠 sin 𝜃

A corresponding ds element in the lower half of the slit i.e at a distance is , will produce a
disturbance
𝑎
𝑑𝑦 = sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘(𝑥 + 𝑠 sin 𝜃)) 𝑑𝑠
𝑥

Note that though ‘x’ in the denominator should also be replace by 𝑥 + 𝑠 sin 𝜃but this can be
approximated in denominator but inside the sine function in the numerator.
𝑎
𝑑𝑦 = [sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘(𝑥 − 𝑠 sin 𝜃)) + sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘(𝑥 + 𝑠 sin 𝜃))]𝑑𝑠
𝑥
2𝑎
𝑑𝑦 = sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥) cos(𝑠𝑘 sin 𝜃) 𝑑𝑠
𝑥

Integrating from 0 to b/2

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𝑏/2
2𝑎
𝑦= sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥) ∫ cos(𝑠𝑘 sin 𝜃) 𝑑𝑠
𝑥 0

𝑏/2
2𝑎 sin(𝑠𝑘 sin 𝜃)
𝑦= sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥) | |
𝑥 𝑘 sin 𝜃 0

𝑘𝑏
2𝑎 sin ( 2 sin 𝜃)
𝑦= sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥)
𝑥 𝑘 sin 𝜃
𝑘𝑏
𝑎𝑏 sin ( 2 sin 𝜃)
𝑦= 𝑘𝑏 sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥)
𝑥 sin 𝜃
2

Let

𝑘𝑏
𝛽= sin 𝜃
2
sin(𝛽)
𝑦 = 𝐴0 sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥)
𝛽
2
sin(𝛽)
𝐼 = (𝐴0 )
𝛽

sin2 (𝛽)
𝐼 = (𝐴0 )2
𝛽2

The above is a single slit diffraction pattern.

sin(𝛽) = 0is the condition for minima 𝛽 = 𝑛𝜋

tan(𝛽) = 𝛽is the condition for maxima

𝑘𝑏
sin 𝜃 = 𝑛𝜋
2
𝑛𝜆
sin 𝜃 =
𝑏

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Note that the intensity minima are occurring at 𝛽 = 𝑛𝜋

3𝜋
1st secondary maxima will occur at 𝛽 = 2

3𝜋
sin2 ( 2 )
𝐼1 = 𝐼0
3𝜋 2
( )
2

5𝜋
sin2 ( 2 )
𝐼2 = 𝐼0
5𝜋 2
(2)

𝛽 = 𝑘𝑑𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜃)

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Positions of principal maximum 𝛽 = 0

𝜋
Positions of secondary maxima 𝛽 = (2𝑛 + 1) 2

3𝜋 2 5𝜋 2 7𝜋 2
𝑠𝑖𝑛( ) 𝐼0 𝑠𝑖𝑛( ) 𝐼0 𝑠𝑖𝑛( ) 0 𝐼
2 2 2
Thus 𝐼1 = 𝐼0 ( 3𝜋 ) = 𝐼
22 2
= 𝐼0 ( 5𝜋 ) = 𝐼
61 3
= 𝐼0 ( 7𝜋 ) = 121
2 2 2

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Fraunhoffer diffraction due to N slits

Ray 1
a
b
Ray 2

Ray 3

𝑑 =𝑎+𝑏

Called the grating constant

Path difference between ray 1 and ray 2 𝑑𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜃)

Path difference between ray 1 and ray 3 2𝑑𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜃)

𝐸1 = 𝐸0 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑟)

𝐸2 = 𝐸0 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘(𝑟 + 2𝑑𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜃)))

𝐸3 = 𝐸0 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘(𝑟 + 3𝑑𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜃)))

Let
𝛿 = 𝑘𝑑𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜃)

𝐸1 = 𝐸0 𝑒 𝑖(𝜔𝑡−𝑘𝑟) , 𝐸2 = 𝐸0 𝑒 𝑖(𝜔𝑡−𝑘𝑟−𝛿),𝐸3 = 𝐸0 𝑒 𝑖(𝜔𝑡−𝑘𝑟−2𝛿),…,

𝐸𝑁 = 𝐸0 𝑒 𝑖(𝜔𝑡−𝑘𝑟−(𝑁−1)𝛿)

Applying principle of superposition

𝐸 = 𝐸0 𝑒 𝑖(𝜔𝑡−𝑘𝑟) (1 + 𝑒 −𝑖𝛿 + 𝑒 −𝑖2𝛿 + ⋯ + 𝑒 −𝑖(𝑁−1)𝛿 )

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1 − 𝑒 −𝑖𝑁𝛿
𝐸 = 𝐸0 𝑒 𝑖(𝜔𝑡−𝑘𝑟)
1 − 𝑒 −𝑖𝛿
∗
1 − 𝑒 −𝑖𝑁𝛿 1 − 𝑒 −𝑖𝑁𝛿
𝐼= 𝐸02 ( )( )
1 − 𝑒 −𝑖𝛿 1 − 𝑒 −𝑖𝛿

1 − 𝑒 −𝑖𝑁𝛿 1 + 𝑒 𝑖𝑁𝛿
𝐼 = 𝐸02 ( )( )
1 − 𝑒 −𝑖𝛿 1 + 𝑒 𝑖𝛿

1 − 𝑒 𝑖𝑁𝛿 − 𝑒 −𝑖𝑁𝛿 + 1
𝐼 = 𝐸02 ( )
1 − 𝑒 𝑖𝛿 − 𝑒 −𝑖𝛿 + 1

2 − 2𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝑁𝛿)
𝐼 = 𝐸02 ( )
2 − 2𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝛿)

𝑁𝛿
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 ( 2 )
𝐼= 𝐸02 𝛿
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 ( )
2

𝛿 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝑁𝛾)
Let 2 = 𝛾 Thus 𝐼 = 𝐸02 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝛾)

𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝑁𝛾)

𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝛾)

𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝑁𝛾)
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝛾)

𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝑁𝛾)
Green: 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝑁𝛾), Blue: 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝛾), Red: 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝛾)

The numerator becomes zero more often than the denominator.

Note the positions where both 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝛾) , 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝑁𝛾) are having minima ( blue and green curve
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝑁𝛾)
above) 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝛾)
expression is having maxima. These are known as principal maxima.

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𝑁𝛾 = 𝑝𝜋 (𝑝 = 1,2, … )are the positions of minima, however when p= 0, 𝑁, 2𝑁 , … it will give

principal maxima.

Thus condition for minima omitting principal maxima

𝛿 𝑘𝑑 sin 𝜃
𝑁 =𝑁 = 𝑝𝜋
2 2
𝜆
𝑑 sin 𝜃 = 𝑝
𝑁

𝜆 𝜆
0 2𝜆 (𝑁 − 1)
𝑁 𝑁
𝑁

Width of principal maxima

∆

𝜆
𝑑 sin(𝜃 ± ∆𝜃) = 𝑛𝜆 ±
𝑁
𝜆
𝑑 sin 𝜃 cos ∆𝜃 ± 𝑑 cos 𝜃 sin ∆𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆 ±
𝑁

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𝜆
lim 𝑑 sin 𝜃 1 ± 𝑑 cos 𝜃 ∆𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆 ±
∆𝜃→0 𝑁
𝜆
𝑛𝜆 ± 𝑑 cos(𝜃) ∆𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆 ±
𝑁
𝜆
∆𝜃 =
𝑁𝑑 cos 𝜃

Principal maxima becomes shaper as ‘N’ increases.

Maximum number of orders for a given grating

(𝑎 + 𝑏) sin 𝜃 = 𝑚𝜆

𝑚𝜆
sin 𝜃 = ≤1
(𝑎 + 𝑏)

(𝑎 + 𝑏)
𝑚≤
𝜆

Absent spectra

When thepath difference between diffracted rays from two extreme edges of one space is equal
to an integral multiple of  for a given direction ‘’ , it will result in ‘zero’ intensity in that
direction.

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a sin 𝜃 = 𝑚𝜆

also the condition for the principal maxima (𝑎 + 𝑏) sin 𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆

When the above conditions are simultaneously satisfied the resultant intensity is zero in that
direction.

(𝑎 + 𝑏) sin 𝜃 𝑛𝜆
=
a sin 𝜃 𝑚𝜆
𝑏 𝑛
= −1
a 𝑚

When b = a, the width of the opaque region is equal to the width of the transparent region.

n = 2𝑚

Thus, 2nd, 4th, 6th, … order of the spectrum will be missing. Similarly, when b= 2a, 3 rd, 6th, 9th …
order of the spectrum will be missing. This is known as absent spectra.

Dispersive power and Resolving power

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Optical Instrument Resolving Power RP in Angstroms

Human eye 0.2 millimeters (mm) 2,000,000 A
Light microscope 0.20 micrometers (µm) 2000 A
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) 5-10 nanometers (nm) 50-100 A
Transmission electron microscope (TEM) 0.5 nanometers (nm) 5A

𝜆 𝑑𝜃
Resolving power= 𝑑𝜆 , Dispersive Power=𝑑𝜆

Dispersive power of a grating

𝑑 sin 𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆

(𝑎 + 𝑏) cos 𝜃 d𝜃 = 𝑛𝑑𝜆

𝑑𝜃 𝑛
=
𝑑𝜆 (𝑎 + 𝑏) cos 𝜃

Thus, smaller the separation (a+b), wider the spread the spectrum.

Higher the order higher the dispersive power.

Resolving power of a grating

We had earlier derived the width of the principal maxima as

𝜆
∆𝜃 =
𝑁𝑑 cos 𝜃

Let 𝑑𝜃 be the separation between  and +d for nth order principal maxima.

𝑑 sin(𝜃 + 𝑑𝜃) = 𝑛(𝜆 + 𝑑𝜆)

𝑑 sin(𝜃) cos 𝑑𝜃 + 𝑑 cos 𝜃 sin 𝑑𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆 + 𝑛𝑑𝜆

𝑑 sin 𝜃 + 𝑑 cos(𝜃) 𝑑𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆 + 𝑛𝑑𝜆

𝑛𝑑𝜆
𝑑𝜃 =
𝑑 cos(𝜃)

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For good resolution 𝑑𝜃 > ∆𝜃. For limiting resolution 𝑑𝜃 = ∆𝜃

𝑛𝑑𝜆 𝜆
=
𝑑 cos(𝜃) 𝑁𝑑 cos(𝜃)

𝜆
= 𝑛𝑁
𝑑𝜆

Thus, resolving power of a grating is independent of the grating constant but increases with
order of the spectrum and total number of lines N in the effective aperture of the grating.

Pure spectrum

Spectrum formed by a grating is pure. There is no overlapping or mixing of colors. This is not the
case with prism spectra.

Normal spectrum

The relative dispersion of two colors is different with prisms made of different glasses. On the
contrary, all grating spectra are similar, therefore diffraction spectrum is also called
standard/normal spectrum.

Rayleigh criterion of resolution

Consider a diffraction pattern consisting of central bright disc surrounded by dark and bright
concentric circular rings rapidly decreasing in intensity. Two, such patterns may be regarded as
separate, i.e., just resolved if the central maximum of one coincides with the first minimum of
the other.

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Resolving power of prism

Let  and  + d be wavelengths of two close lines.

A
N1
M N


I1


I
S B C

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Prism is at the minimum deviation position

𝜆→𝜇

𝜆 + 𝑑𝜆 → 𝜇 − 𝑑𝜇

MA+AN= BC

MA+AN1= ( − d)BC

AN-AN1=BC d

NN1=td

Also

NN1=CNd

td=CNd

From the theory of diffraction we know that for the first minimum of 𝜆 to fall at point I1

𝜆
𝑑𝜃 =
𝑎

Where a is the width of the beam.

𝜆
𝑡𝑑𝜇 = 𝐶𝑁
𝐶𝑁

𝑡𝑑𝜇 = 𝜆

𝑑𝜇 𝜆
𝑡 =
𝑑𝜆 𝑑𝜆

Thus resolving power of a prism

𝜆 𝑑𝜇
=𝑡
𝑑𝜆 𝑑𝜆
𝑑𝜇
𝑑𝜆
can be found from Cauchy formula

𝐵 𝐶
𝜇 =𝐴+ 2
+ 3+⋯
𝜆 𝜆

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𝑑𝜇 2𝐵
=− 3
𝑑𝜆 𝜆
𝜆 𝑑𝜇 2𝐵𝑡
=𝑡 =− 3
𝑑𝜆 𝑑𝜆 𝜆

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