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Wave Optics One Shot

The document outlines the historical development of light models, starting with the corpuscular model proposed by Descartes and later expanded by Newton. It discusses the wave theory introduced by Huygens, which was validated through experiments such as Foucault's and Young's interference experiment, ultimately leading to Maxwell's electromagnetic theory. The document also covers key concepts like wavefronts, interference, diffraction, and the conservation of energy in light phenomena.

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11 views23 pages

Wave Optics One Shot

The document outlines the historical development of light models, starting with the corpuscular model proposed by Descartes and later expanded by Newton. It discusses the wave theory introduced by Huygens, which was validated through experiments such as Foucault's and Young's interference experiment, ultimately leading to Maxwell's electromagnetic theory. The document also covers key concepts like wavefronts, interference, diffraction, and the conservation of energy in light phenomena.

Uploaded by

smbhanu7623
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Wave Optics

Historical Development of Light Models

Corpuscular Model
Proposed by Descartes in 1637.
Described light as particles.
Derived Snell’s law, explaining reflection and refraction.
Rene Descarts
Predicted light bending towards the normal; assumed higher speed in the second medium
(which proved to be wrong later)
Isaac Newton expanded on this model in his book "OPTICKS," gaining widespread
popularity.
Wave Optics
Wave Theory by Christiaan Huygens (1678)

Offered an alternative explanation, viewing light as waves.


Explored in detail in this chapter.
Could explain reflection and refraction but with a different
prediction about the speed of light in different mediums.
Contradicted the corpuscular model by predicting slower speed in
Christiaan Huygens
the second medium when light bends towards the normal.

Experimental confirmation

Foucault's 1850 experiment demonstrated that light travels slower in water compared to air.
Confirmed the wave model's prediction about varying speeds in different mediums.
Wave Optics
Challenges to Wave Theory and Young's Experiment

Obstacles to Acceptance
Newton's authority and the belief that light could travel
through a vacuum challenged the acceptance of the wave theory.
Thomas Young
Waves were traditionally thought to require a medium for propagation.
Thomas Young's Interference Experiment (1801)
Crucial in affirming light as a wave phenomenon.
Established through interference patterns that light behaves as a wave.
Wave Optics
Validation of wave theory and Maxwell’s contribution

Maxwell's Electromagnetic Theory


Maxwell developed equations describing laws of electricity and
magnetism.
Derived the wave equation, predicting the existence of
James Maxwell
electromagnetic waves.
Calculated theoretical speed of these waves in free space,
remarkably close to the measured speed of light.
Light as Electromagnetic Waves
Maxwell proposed that light waves are a form of electromagnetic waves.
Changing electric fields create varying magnetic fields, and vice versa, leading to the
propagation of electromagnetic waves even in a vacuum.
Wave Optics
Wave front

Continuos locus of all the pooints which are oscillating in the same
phase is called wavefront.
or
Wavefront is defined as the surface of constant phase.

important points

The speed with which the wavefront moves outwards


from the source is called the speed of the wave.
The energy of the wave travels in a direction
perpendicular to the wavefront.
light rays are perpendicular to the wavefront.
Wave Optics
Huygen’s principles - Wave theory of light

First Principle
Each point of the wavefront is the source of a
secondary disturbance and the wavelets
emanating from these points spread out in all
directions with the speed of the wave. These
wavelets emanating from the wavefront are
usually referred to as secondary wavelets.

Second Principle

If we draw a common tangent to all these spheres, we obtain the new position of the
wavefront at a later time.
Wave Optics
Proof of law of reflection using wave theory of light
Wave Optics
Proof of law of Snell’s law using wave theory of light
Wave Optics
Wave Optics
Explanation of behavior on the basis of wavefront

Prism

nt Spherical
de nt
ci fro wavefront of
In ve radius R/2
wa

Mirror
Lens

Spherical wavefront
of radius f
Wave Optics
Interference of waves

Principle of superposition of waves

At a particular point in the medium, the


resultant displacement produced by a
number of waves is the vector sum of the
displacements produced by each of the
waves.

Coherent sources

Sources which emit waves of constant phase


difference are called coherent sources.
Wave Optics
Constructive interference
Wave Optics
Constructive interference
Wave Optics
Destructive interference
Wave Optics
Wave Optics
If the phase difference changes very rapidly with time, the positions of maxima and
minima will also vary rapidly with time and we will see a “time-averaged” intensity
distribution. When this happens, we will observe an average intensity that will be given
by

at all points
When the phase difference between the two vibrating sources changes rapidly with time,
we say that the two sources are incoherent and when this happens the intensities just
add up. This is indeed what happens when two separate light sources illuminate a wall.
Wave Optics
Young’s double slit experiment

S is a source of light.
S1 and S2 are two narrow slits.
Screen is placed at a distance D from
the plane of slits.
An interference pattern of alternate S
light and dark bans is obtained on the
screen.
Wave Optics

nth light band is formed at P if

Distance of nth light band from centre of screen is


Wave Optics
Similarly nth dark band is formed at P if

Distance of nth light band from centre of screen is

Fringe width
Wave Optics
Ratio of intensity of light at Maxima and minima

Relation between slit width, Intensity and amplitude


Wave Optics
Diffraction due to single slit

When the double slit in Young’s


experiment is replaced by a single narrow
slit (illuminated by a monochromatic
source), a broad pattern with a central
bright region is seen.
On both sides, there are alternate dark
and bright regions, the intensity
becoming weaker away from the centre.

Figure which shows a parallel beam of light falling normally on a single slit LN of
width a.
The diffracted light goes on to meet a screen.
Wave Optics
Condition for maxima Difference between interference and diffraction

According to Richard Feynman

No one has ever been able to define the difference


between interference and diffraction satisfactorily.
Condition for minima It is just a question of usage, and there is no
specific, important physical difference between
them. The best we can do is, roughly speaking, is to
say that when there are only a few sources, say two
interfering sources, then the result is usually called
interference, but if there is a large number of them,
it seems that the word diffraction is more often
used.
Wave Optics
Energy conservation
In interference and diffraction, light energy is redistributed. If it reduces in one region,
producing a dark fringe, it increases in another region, producing a bright fringe. There
is no gain or loss of energy, which is consistent with the principle of conservation of
energy.

Seeing the single slit diffraction pattern

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