INTERFERENCE

• Principle states that the

resultant displacement
produced at a point in a
medium due to a number
of waves is the vector
PRINCIPLE OF sum of the displacements
produced by individual
SUPERPOSITION waves.
• Mathematically,
y=y1+y2+y3+……+yn
 INTERFERENCE
• Interference refers to the effects obtained
when two or more light waves of the same
amplitude and constant phase difference
combine.
• Redistribution of light energy due to the
superposition of two or more waves, resulting
in certain areas becoming more intense
while intermediate areas becoming less
intense or dark.
• These alternative bright and dark bands are
called interference bands or interference
fringes.
 Sources should be coherent.

(The two sources are said to be coherent if

CONDITIONS they emit light waves of the nearly same
amplitude, same frequency, and constant
FOR phase difference.)
INTERFERENCE
Lightwaves from two or more coherent
sources should superimpose at the same
place.
 SPATIAL COHERENCE AND
TEMPORAL COHERENCE
• SPATIAL COHERENCE • TEMPORAL COHERENCE
• Concerned with phase • Concerned with phase
correlation of waves at correlation of waves at same
different transverse point of longitudinal point in space at
waves at same time. different time.
• Coherence related to space. • Coherence related to time.
• It is known as transverse • It is known as longitudial
coherence. coherence.
• Length upto which coherence • Time upto which coherence is
is maintained is called maintained is called
coherence length. coherence time.
SPATIAL COHERENCE TEMPORAL COHERENCE
The waves at p and p’ should have The two waves should have
same phase to be coherent. same phase as long as
possible.

Waves are said to be coherent if it has both spatial

coherence and temporal coherence.
 PATH DIFFERENCE AND PHASE
DIFFERENCE
𝟐𝝅
• Phase difference = x path difference
𝝀
CONSTRUCTIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE
 • Condition for maximum intensity is that
the path difference between the waves
CONDITION is integral multiple of λ.
FOR • Path difference = n λ where
n=0,1,2,3,….
MAXIMUM • i.e.,path path difference is = 0,λ,2 λ……
INTENSITY
AND • Condition for minimum intensity is that
the path difference between the waves
MINIMUM is half integral multiple of λ
INTENSITY • i.e., path difference = (2n+1) λ /2
where n=0,1,2,3,….
• i.e., path difference = λ/2,3 λ/2 ,5λ/2,
etc.
 THEORY OF THIN FILM
• A thin film is a layer of material
ranging from less than a nanometer to
several micrometers thick. E.g.: Soap
bubbles, Oil slicks on water.
• Consider a thin transparent film of
thickness t and refractive index µ
bounded by two parallel surfaces XY
and X1Y1 surrounded by air.
• Suppose a ray of light from an
extended monochromatic source is
incident on the surface XY at A. Then
the light is partly reflected along with
AP and partly refracted along AE.
• Upon arrival at E, a part of the latter is
again reflected along EB inside the
film and a part is transmitted along
EP1 so that EP1 is parallel to SA. At B,
the ray EB is again divided. Similar
reflections and refractions happen at
F,C,D,G,H etc.
• A continuation of this process
happens and there will be parallel
rays on both sides of the film. These
rays superimpose and an
interference pattern is produced.
REFLECTED SYSTEM
• To find the path difference between
AEBQ and AP,
• ∆= µ(AE+AB) - AN
= 2 µ AE – AN ------ (1)
𝒕
In ∆AEM, t = AE cos r and AE = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒓 --- (2)
In ∆ANB, AN = AB Sin i
(AM=MB)
AN = 2 AM Sin i
In ∆AEM, AM = t tan r
• Therefore, AN = 2t tanr sini --------- (3)
𝑺𝒊𝒏 𝒊
µ= ---------- (4)
𝑺𝒊𝒏 𝒓
Hence (3) becomes, AN = 2µt tan r sin r ---------- (5)
Substituting (2) and (5) in (1),
2µt
∆ = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒓 - 2µt tan r sin r

2µ𝒕 2µ𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝒓

= −
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒓 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒓

2µ𝒕
∆ = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒓 (𝟏 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝐫) = 2µt cos r
This is known as cosine law.

Whenever the light wave get reflected from a denser medium to rarer
medium, there will be a phase change of (i.e., a path difference of
λ/ 2).
• Hence the effective path difference will be,
∆ = 2µt cos r ± λ/2
Condition for bright band or constructive interference:
2µt cos r ± λ/2 = nλ
2µt cos r = nλ ± λ/2
2µt cos r = (2n ± 1) λ/2
where n = 0,1,2,3…
Condition for dark band or destructive interference:
2µt cos r ± λ/2 = (2n+1) λ/2
2µt cos r = (2n+1) λ/2 ± λ/2
2µt cos r = nλ
where n = 0,1,2,3...
 COLOURS OF THIN FILM

• Films appear bright or dark, when monochromatic light is

incident on them.
• If the film is exposed to an extended source of white light,
different colours are observed at different positions of the
eye. The colours for which the condition of maxima is
satisfied will be seen and others will be absent.
• When a plano-convex lens is placed NEWTONS RINGS
on a plane glass plate, with its convex
surface touching the plate, an air film
of gradually increasing thickness is
formed between the two.
• If monochromatic light is allowed to
fall normally and viewed as shown in
fig., alternate dark and bright circular
fringes are observed.
• The fringes are circular because the
locus of all points having same
thickness has a circular shape and is
called Newton’s ring.
• Newton's rings are formed because of
the interference between the waves
reflected from the top and bottom
surfaces of the air film formed
between the lens and the glass plate.
• Light from a monochromatic source S is
rendered parallel by a lens L, and then it is
made to fall on a glass plate G, inclined at
an angle of 45° to the incident beam. The
beam is reflected normally onto a plano-
convex lens L placed on a plane glass
plate G Light rays reflected from the top
and bottom surfaces of the air film interfere.
Circular dark and bright fringes can be
observed by looking through a travelling
microscope focused on to the system. The
locus of points having the same thickness
as the air film falls on a circle. Therefore
fringes take the form of concentric rings.
The path difference between the rays reflected from the top and bottom
surfaces of the air film where the thickness is t is given by
𝝀
∆ = 2µt cos r ± 𝟐
(For normal incidence, r=0, Cos r = 1 and for air µ = 1)
𝝀
∴∆ = 2µt ± 𝟐
• Condition for bright rings,
𝝀
2µt ± = nλ
𝟐
2µt = (2n ± 1) λ/2 , n = 0,1,2…
• Condition for dark rings,
𝝀
2µt ± = (2n + 1) λ/2
𝟐
2µt = nλ , n = 0,1,2…
• At the center O, the
thickness of the air film is
zero.
• But due to the phase
change of occurring on
reflection at the glass
plate (denser medium),
there will be an effective
path difference of λ/2
between the interfering
waves. Thus a dark spot is
observed at the centre of
the ring system.
•The curved surface LOL’ is part of the spherical surface.
•Let R be the radius of curvature of the lens,
•t be the thickness of the air film at A and r be the radius of the ring.
• From the property of the circle,
AC x CB = DC x CO
= (DO-CO) x CO
r2 = (2R - t)t = 2 Rt - t2
As 2Rt >> 1, t2 can be neglected
r2 = 2Rt
𝒓𝟐
2t = 𝑹
• Diameter of the dark ring:
• Let rn be the radius of nth dark ring where thickness of the film is t,
rn𝟐
2t = 𝑹
We have a condition for darkness, 2µt = nλ
rn𝟐 𝑛𝜆
Substituting these two, 𝑹 = µ
𝑅𝑛𝜆
rn =
𝟐
µ
dn𝟐 𝑅𝑛𝜆
If dn is the diameter of the nth dark ring, rn =
𝟐
𝟒
= µ
4𝑹nλ
dn =
𝟐
µ
4𝑹nλ
dn = µ
• Diameter of the bright ring:
• Let rn be the radius of nth bright ring where thickness of the film is t,
rn𝟐
2t = 𝑹
We have a condition for brightness, 2µt = (2n ± 1) λ/2

rn𝟐 (𝟐𝐧 ± 𝟏) 𝛌/𝟐

Substituting these two, =
𝑹 µ

𝑹(2n ± 1) λ
rn𝟐 = 𝟐µ
dn𝟐 𝑹(2n ± 1) λ
If dn is the diameter of the nth bright ring, rn =
𝟐
𝟒
= 𝟐µ
2𝑹(2n ± 1) λ
dn𝟐 = µ
2𝑹(2n ± 1) λ
dn =
µ
 DETERMINATION OF WAVELENGTH
OF LIGHT
• Let dn and dn+m be the diameters of nth and (n+m)th dark rings
respectively.
dn𝟐 = 4𝑹nλ
dn+𝒎𝟐 = 4𝑹(n+m)λ
dn+m𝟐 − dn𝟐 = 4𝑹mλ
dn+𝐦𝟐 − dn𝟐
λ= 𝟒𝑹𝒎
• Plot a graph between number of rings and
square of the corresponding diameter.
𝑨𝑩 dn+𝐦𝟐 − dn𝟐
From the graph, slope = =
𝑪𝑫 𝒎
𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒆
∴λ= 𝟒𝑹
 DETERMINATION OF REFRACTIVE
INDEX OF A LIQUID
• Let dn and dn+m be the diameters of nth and (n+m)th dark rings
respectively.
dn+𝐦𝟐 - dn𝟐 = 4𝑹mλ -------- (1)
• Let d’n and d’n+m be the diameters of nth and (n+m)th dark rings with the
liquid between the plano convex lens and glass plate. If µ is the
refractive index of the liquid,
4𝑹mλ
d′n+𝐦 - d′n =
𝟐 𝟐
--------- (2)
𝝁
Dividing (1) by (2),
dn+𝐦𝟐 − dn𝟐
µ =
d′n+𝐦𝟐 − d′n𝟐
 ANTIREFLECTION COATING
• Optical instruments, such as telescopes
and Cameras, use multicomponent glass
lenses. Part of the light incident on the
glass surface is reflected backward, which
amounts to a loss and reduces the quality
of the image formed.
• Phenomenon of interference can be
utilised in forming non -reflective or
antireflection coating, on surfaces to
eliminate the reflections.
• Let us consider a glass surface coated with
a thin film of hard transparent material
with refractive index smaller than that of
glass. Part of the light incident on the film
gets reflected on both sides of the film.
These reflections can be suppressed.
Amplitudes of interfering
waves must be equal

• 𝑅𝑡𝑎 = 𝑅𝑔𝑡

𝑛𝑎 −𝑛𝑡 2
• 𝑅𝑡𝑎 =
𝑛𝑎 +𝑛𝑡

2
𝑛𝑡 −𝑛𝑔
• 𝑅𝑔𝑡 =
𝑛𝑡 +𝑛𝑔
• 𝑅𝑡𝑎 = 𝑅𝑔𝑡 • (𝑛𝑎 𝑛𝑡 + 𝑛𝑎 𝑛𝑔 − 𝑛𝑡 𝑛𝑔 − 𝑛𝑡2 ) =
(𝑛𝑡 𝑛𝑎 + 𝑛𝑡2 − 𝑛𝑔 𝑛𝑎 − 𝑛𝑔 𝑛𝑡 )
2
𝑛𝑎 −𝑛𝑡 2 𝑛𝑡 −𝑛𝑔
• = • 2𝑛𝑡2 = 2𝑛𝑎 𝑛𝑔
𝑛𝑎 +𝑛𝑡 𝑛𝑡 +𝑛𝑔

𝑛𝑎 −𝑛𝑡 𝑛𝑡 −𝑛𝑔 • 𝑛𝑡2 = 𝑛𝑎 𝑛𝑔

• =
𝑛𝑎 +𝑛𝑡 𝑛3 +𝑛2
• 𝑛𝑡 = 𝑛𝑔
• (𝑛𝑎 − 𝑛𝑡 )(𝑛𝑡 + 𝑛𝑔 ) =
(𝑛𝑡 − 𝑛𝑔 )(𝑛𝑎 + 𝑛𝑡 ) Hence, 𝑛𝑔 > 𝑛𝑡 > 𝑛𝑎
• Assuming normal incidence on the film, the geometric path difference
between rays 1 and 2 will be,
BC + CD = 2BC = 2t
Optical path difference between the rays
∆ = 2µt
where µ is the refractive index of the film
A phase change of occurs at both B and C, hence no additional path
change.
If the two waves interfere destructively, there will be no reflections from
the surface. i.e., path difference = (2n+1) λ/2
2µt = (2n+1) λ/2
For n = 0, 2µtmin = λ/2
𝝀
tmin = 𝟒𝝁
 𝝀
• Thus the optical thickness should be equal to 𝟒𝝁. Such
coatings eliminate reflections.
• Refractive index of the film should lie between refractive
indices of the upper and lower media.
• Since these coatings suppress reflections, they are called
antireflection coatings.
• Eg: MgF2
𝝀
• Thickness of the film can be 𝟒𝝁 for a particular wavelength
only. This is usually chosen in the yellow-green region of
the spectrum where the eye is most sensitive.
 NUMERICALS
• Light of wavelength 5893A° is reflected at nearly normal
incidence from a soap film of refractive index μ = 1.42. What
is theleast thickness of the film that will appear (i) dark, (ii)
bright?

given, μ = 1.42 λ = 5893A°

(i) Condition for brightness, 2μt cos r = (2n ± 1) λ/2
for normal incidence, r = 0, cos r = 1
for least thickness, n = 0,
2μt = λ/2
𝛌
t= = 1037.5A°
𝟒𝛍
(ii) Condition for darkness, 2μt cos r = nλ
for normal incidence, r = 0, cos r = 1
for least thickness, n = 1,
2μt = λ
𝛌
t= = 2075A°
𝟐𝛍
• In newton’s ring experiment the diameters of the 4th and 12th
dark rings are 0.4cm and 0.7cm respectively. Deduce the
diameter of 20th dark ring.

dn+𝐦𝟐 − dn𝟐
We have equation for wavelenght, λ =
𝟒𝑹𝒎
d𝟏𝟐𝟐 − d𝟒𝟐
λ=
𝟒𝑹𝒙𝟖
.𝟕𝟐 − .𝟒𝟐
Rλ = = .0103125 cm
𝟒𝒙𝟖
𝒅𝟐𝟐𝟎 = 4nRλ = 4x20x0.0103125 = .825
𝒅𝟐𝟎 = .908 cm
• In newton’s ring experiment, find the radius of curvature of
the lens surface in contact with the glass plate when with a
light of wavelength 5890x10-8 cm, is used. The diameter of
the 3rd dark ring is 3.3mm. The light is falling such an angle
that it passes through the air film at an angle of zero degree
to the normal.

dn = 4𝑹nλ
𝒅𝟐𝒏
R= = 1.54m
𝟒𝒏λ
• Newton’s rings are formed using sodium light in an
experiment. what is the order of the dark ring which has
double the diameter of the 40th dark ring.

𝒅𝟐𝒏 = 4Rnλ
𝒅𝟐𝟒𝟎 = 𝟏𝟔𝟎Rλ dn = 2d40
𝒅𝟐𝒏 = 4 𝒅𝟐𝟒𝟎

4Rnλ = 4 x 𝟏𝟔𝟎Rλ
n = 160
• The diameter of the 20th dark ring in a Newton’s ring system
viewed normally is 0.6cm. Calculate the thickness of the
corresponding air film. Wavelength of the light used is 6x10-8
cm.
𝒅𝟐𝒏 = 4Rnλ
rn𝟐
2t =
𝑹
Answer = 6x10-7 cm