DIFFRACTION OF LIGHT

DEFINATION

To all outward appearance, light seems to travel in straight line. A very careful observation,
however, reveals that light does suffer some deviation from its straight path when it passes close
to the edges of opaque obstacles or narrow slits. It is found that some light bends into the region
of geometrical shadow.

The bending of light around corners and spreading of light waves into the geometrical shadow
of an object is called diffraction.

The deviation of light is very small when the dimensions of the obstacle or aperture are large, as
compared to the wavelength of light and becomes much pronounced when the dimensions of the
obstacle or the aperture are comparable with the wavelength of light.

Diffraction phenomenon can conveniently be divided into two groups

(i) Fresnel diffraction phenomena and

(ii) Fraunhofer diffraction phenomena.

(i) Fresnel diffraction: In the Fresnel class of diffraction, the source of light, or the screen or
both are at finite distances from the diffracting aperture. No lenses are employed here for
rendering the light beam parallel or convergent. It turns out that it is much easier to calculate the
intensity distribution of a Fraunhofer diffraction pattern.

(ii) Fraunhofer diffraction: In the Fraunhofer class of diffraction, the source of light and the
screen are at infinite distances from the diffracting aperture. This is very conveniently achieved by
placing the source on the focal plane of a convex lens and placing the screen on the focal plane of
another convex lens. The first beam makes the light beam parallel and the second lens makes the
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Susmita Bhattacharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics
DUET, Gazipur
 screen receive a parallel beam of light, thus effectively moving both the source and the screen to
infinity.

Difference between Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction phenomena:

Fresnel diffraction phenomena Fraunhofer diffraction phenomena

1. The source or the screen or both are at finite 1. The source and the screen on which the
distances from the aperture or obstacle pattern is observed are at infinite
causing diffraction. distances from aperture or the obstacle
causing diffraction.

2. In this case, the effect at a specific point on 2. Fraunhofer diffraction pattern can be
the screen due to the exposed incident easily observed in practice.
wavefront is considered. 3. The incoming light is rendered parallel
3. No modification is made by lenses and with a lens and the diffracted beam is
mirrors. Observation of Fresnel diffraction focused on the screen with another lens.
phenomena do not require any lens.

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Susmita Bhattacharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics
DUET, Gazipur
FRAUNHOFER DIFFRACTION AT A SINGLE SLIT

L1 L2 M
X A C
L θ Q
R
S θ P
a O x
θ
V P’
Y B
T

Fig: 1

S is a narrow slit perpendicular to the plane of the paper and illuminated by monochromatic light.
L1 is the collimating lens and AB is a slit of width a. XY is the incident spherical waterfront. The
light passing through the slit AB is incident on the lens L2 and finally refracted beam is observed
on the screen MN. The screen is perpendicular to the plane of the paper. The line SP is
perpendicular to the screen. L1 and L2 are achromatic lenses.

A plane wave front is incident on the slit AB and each point on this wave front is a source of
secondary disturbance. The secondary waves travelling in the direction parallel to OP. AQ and BV
come to focus at P and a bright central image is observed. Now, consider the secondary waves
travelling in the direction AR, inclined at an angle θ to the direction OP. All the secondary wave
travelling in this direction reach the point P’ on the screen.

The point P’ will be of maximum or minimum intensity depending on the path difference between
the secondary waves originating from the corresponding points of the wavefront.

Draw OC and BL perpendicular to AR.

Then, in the ∆ ABL

sin θ = AL/ AB = AL/ a

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Susmita Bhattacharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics
DUET, Gazipur
 or AL = a sin θ

AL is the path difference between the secondary waves originating from A and B.

If this path difference is equal to λ the wavelength of light used, then P’ will be a point of minimum
intensity.

The whole wavefront can be considered to be of two halves OA and OB and if the path difference
between the secondary waves from A and B is λ , then the path difference between the secondary
waves from A and O will be λ/2.

Similarly for every point in the upper half OA, there is a corresponding point in the lower half OB
and the path difference between the secondary waves from these points is λ/2.

Thus, the destructive interference takes place and the point P’ will be of minimum intensity.

In general, 𝑎 sin 𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆
𝑛𝜆
or, sin 𝜃𝑛 = ; whereθ gives the direction of the nth minimum and n is an integer.
𝑎

𝜆
If, the path difference is odd multiples of , the directions of the secondary maxima can be
2
𝜆
obtained. In this case, a sin 𝜃𝑛 = (2𝑛 + 1) 2

(2𝑛+1)𝜆
sin 𝜃𝑛 = ; where n =1,2,3,……
2𝑎

Thus, the diffraction pattern due to a single slit consists of a central bright maximum at P followed
by secondary maximum and minimum on both the sides.

The intensity distribution on the screen is given in fig-2. P corresponds to the position of the central
bright maximum and the points on the screen for which the path difference between the points A
and B is λ, 2λ etc., correspond to the positions of secondary minima. The secondary maxima are
of much less intensity. The intensity falls off rapidly from the point P outwards.

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Susmita Bhattacharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics
DUET, Gazipur
 Fig: 2

If the lens L2 is very near the slit or the screen is far away from the lens L2, then
𝑥
sin θ = 𝑓 ………………………………(i)

Where, f is the focal length of the lens L2

𝜆
But, sin θ = 𝑎 ……………………………………(ii)

𝑥 𝜆
so , =𝑎
𝑓

𝑓𝜆
𝑥= ;
𝑎

x is the distance of the secondary minimum from the point.

Thus the width of the central maximum = 2x.

2𝑓𝜆
2𝑥 = ………………………………(iii)
𝑎

The width of the central maximum is proportional to λ, the wavelength of light.

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Susmita Bhattacharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics
DUET, Gazipur
Ex: 1 Find the half angular width of the central bright maximum in the Fraunhofer diffraction
pattern of a slit of width 12x 10-5 cm when the slit is illuminated by monochromatic light of
wavelength 6000 A0.

Ex: 2 Fraunhofer diffraction due to a narrow slit a screen is placed 2m away from the lens to
obtain the pattern. If the slit width is 0.2 mm and the first minima lie 5 mm on either side of the
central maximum, find the wave length of light.

Fraunhofer Diffraction due to double slit

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Susmita Bhattacharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics
DUET, Gazipur
Missing Orders in a Double Slit Diffraction Pattern:

We have taken the slit width as a and double slit separation as b. If a is kept constant, we will
observe the same diffraction pattern. However, if a is kept constant and b is varied, the spacing
between interference maxima changes, depending upon the relative values of a and b. some order
of interference maxima will be missing in the resultant pattern.

We have direction for in interference maxima as,

(𝑎+𝑏) sin𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆………………(i)
And,the direction for diffraction minima as,
𝑎sin𝜃 = 𝑚𝜆…………………………..(ii)

Where, n and m are integers. If the values of a and b are such that both the equations (i) and (ii)
are satisfied simultaneously, for same value of 𝜃, in that case position of interference maxima
correspond to that of diffraction minima.

i.e., 2nd, 4th, 6th, etc., orders of the interference maxima will be missing in the diffraction pattern.

ii. If 𝟐𝒂 = 𝒃, then we get from equations (i) and (ii),

3 𝑎sin𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆……………………(iii) and

𝑎sin𝜃 = 𝑚𝜆………………..(iv)

Dividing equation (iii) by (iv) we get,

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Susmita Bhattacharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics
DUET, Gazipur
3 𝑎sin𝜃/𝑎sin𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆/𝑚𝜆

Or, 3 = 𝑛𝑚

∴ 𝑛 = 3𝑚

Now, if 𝑚 = 1,2,3,……………… then, 𝑛 = 3,6,9,………………….

i.e., 3rd, 6th, 9th, etc., orders of the interference maxima will be missing in the diffraction pattern.

iii. If 𝒂+𝒃 = 𝒂 Or 𝒃 = 𝟎

In that case we will have a single slit, so all interference patterns will be missing. In this case
diffraction pattern observed on the screen is similar to that due to a single slit with width 2a.

Diffraction grating:

An arrangement consisting of a large number of equidistant parallel narrow slits of equal width
separated by equal opaque portions is known as a diffraction grating. The plane transmission
grating is a plane sheet of transparent material on which opaque rulings are made with a fine
diamond pointer. The modern commercial form of grating contains about 6000 lines per
centimetre. The rulings act as obstacles having a definite width ‘b’ and the transparent space
between the rulings act as slit of width ‘a’. The combined width of a ruling and a slit is called
grating element (e). Points on successive slits separated by a distance equal to the grating element
are called corresponding points.

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Susmita Bhattacharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics
DUET, Gazipur
Theory of diffraction grating:

In figure, MN represents the section of a plane transmission grating. AB, CD and EF are the
successive slits of equal width a and BC & DE be the rulings of equal width b. Let a plane
wavefront of monochromatic light of wavelength λ be incident normally on the grating. According
to Huygens principle, the points in the slit AB, CD and EF act as a source of secondary wavelets
which spread in all directions on the other side of the grating.

Let us consider the secondary diffracted wavelets, which makes an angle θ with the normal to the
grating.

The path difference between the wavelets from one pair of corresponding points A and C is

𝐶𝐺 = 𝐴𝐶sin𝜃 = (𝑎+𝑏) sin𝜃.

Similarly it will be seen that the path difference between the wavelets from any pair of
corresponding points (say 𝐶 & 𝐸 and 𝐷 & 𝐹) is also (𝑎+𝑏) sin𝜃.

∴ The point 𝑃1 will be bright, when

(𝑎+𝑏) sin𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆 [Where 𝑛 = 0,1,2,3,……………………]

9
Susmita Bhattacharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics
DUET, Gazipur
 10
Susmita Bhattacharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics
DUET, Gazipur
the colours resulting in the formation of bright images producing a spectrum from violet to red.

These spectra are formed on either side of white, the central maximum. Dispersive power.

Dispersive power of a grating:

Dispersive power of a grating is defined as the ratio of the difference in the angle of diffraction of
any two neighboring spectral lines to the difference in wavelength between the two spectral lines.
It can also be defined as the difference in the angle of diffraction per unit change in wavelength. It
dθ
is denoted by .
dλ

We know, the direction of the nth order principal maximum for a wavelength λ is given by,

(𝑎+𝑏) sin𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆
nλ
Or, sin𝜃 = (a+b)

1
Or, sin𝜃 = 𝑛𝑁𝜆 [Where, number of lines per cm in the grating, 𝑁 = (𝑎+𝑏)]

Or, cos𝜃.𝑑𝜃 = 𝑛𝑁 𝑑𝜆
dθ nN
∴ = ………………..(i)
dλ cosθ

From equation (i) it is clear that,

i. the dispersive power of the grating is directly proportional to the order of the spectrum

ii. the dispersive power is directly proportional to the total number of lines per cm and

iii. the dispersive power of the grating is inversely proportional to cos𝜃

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Susmita Bhattacharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics
DUET, Gazipur
Resolving power of a grating:

Resolving power of a grating is defined as the capacity of a grating to form separate diffraction
λ
maxima of two wavelengths which are very close to each other. It is measured by , where 𝑑𝜆 is
dλ
the smallest difference in two wavelengths which are just resolvable by grating and 𝜆 is the
wavelength of either of them or mean wavelength.

Resolving power of a plane transmission grating:

In figure, AB is the grating surface,

XY is the field of view of the telescope,

𝑃1 is the 𝑛𝑡ℎ primary maximum of a spectral line of wavelength 𝜆 at angle of diffraction 𝜃𝑛,

𝑃2 is the 𝑛𝑡ℎ primary maximum of a second spectral line of wavelength 𝜆 + 𝑑𝜆 at angle of diffraction
𝜃𝑛 + 𝑑𝜃𝑛.

𝑃1 and 𝑃2 are the spectral lines in the 𝑛𝑡ℎ order. These two spectral lines according to Rayleigh will
appear just resolved if the position of 𝑃2 also corresponds to the first minimum of 𝑃1.

So the direction of the nth primary maximum for a wavelength 𝜆 is given by,

(𝑎+𝑏) sin𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆………………………(i)

And the direction of the nth primary maximum for a wavelength 𝜆+𝑑𝜆 is given by,

(𝑎+𝑏) sin (𝜃𝑛+𝑑𝜃𝑛) = 𝑛 (𝜆+𝑑𝜆)………………….(ii)

These two lines will appear just resolved if the angle of diffraction (𝜃𝑛 +𝑑𝜃𝑛) also corresponds to
the direction of the first secondary minimum after the 𝑛𝑡ℎ primary maximum at 𝑃1 (corresponding
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Susmita Bhattacharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics
DUET, Gazipur
 λ
to the wavelength 𝜆). This is possible if the extra path difference is introduced, where 𝑁 is the
N
total number of lines on the grating surface. Hence,

𝜆
(𝑎 + 𝑏) sin(𝜃𝑛 + 𝑑𝜃𝑛 ) = 𝑛𝜆 +
𝑁
𝜆
𝑛(𝜆 + 𝑑𝜆) = 𝑛𝜆 +
𝑁
𝜆
𝑛𝜆 + 𝑛𝑑𝜆 = 𝑛𝜆 + 𝑁 [From equation (ii)]

𝜆
𝑛𝑑𝜆 =
𝑁
𝝀
So, = 𝒏𝑵 .…..… (iv)
𝒅𝝀

This is the expression of the resolving power of a grating. Thus, the resolving power of a grating
is independent of the grating constant. From equation (iv) it is clear that

i. the resolving power is directly proportional to the order of the spectrum and

ii. the resolving power is directly proportional to the total number of lines on the grating surface.

iii. the resoving power increases with increases in the total number of lines on the grating surface.

iv. the resolving power of a grating is independent of the grating constant.

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Susmita Bhattacharjee
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics
DUET, Gazipur