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lecture_26b

The document discusses the phenomenon of diffraction, where light bends around edges and produces patterns based on wave interactions. It covers single slit diffraction, destructive interference, and the effects of slit width on diffraction patterns, as well as the use of diffraction gratings to analyze light. Additionally, it includes examples and equations related to resolving power and intensity in diffraction scenarios.

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Nano Suyatno
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2 views

lecture_26b

The document discusses the phenomenon of diffraction, where light bends around edges and produces patterns based on wave interactions. It covers single slit diffraction, destructive interference, and the effects of slit width on diffraction patterns, as well as the use of diffraction gratings to analyze light. Additionally, it includes examples and equations related to resolving power and intensity in diffraction scenarios.

Uploaded by

Nano Suyatno
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Diffraction

Light can “bend” around edges.

Each point of a “wave front” behaves as an independent


source of light.
• Produces no surprises for broad wave fronts without
obstacles.
Diffraction

Light can “bend” around edges.

Each point of a “wave front” behaves as an independent


source of light.
• Produces no surprises for broad wave fronts without
obstacles.
• Produces bend around obstacles.

Single Edge Narrow Gap


Diffraction

Light can “bend” around edges.

Significant when object dimensions are comparable to


wavelength.

Single Edge Narrow Gap


Single Slit Diffraction

Light passing through a narrow gap. Consider ray from


bottom of gap and ray from just above middle of gap.

y
θ

θ
Single Slit Diffraction
Destructive Interference

y
θ

θ
Single Slit Diffraction

For every ray from the lower half there is a


corresponding ray from the upper
completely out of phase
with the first ray at the
screen.
Single Slit Diffraction

The effect can be repeated for any even division of the


gap.

Destructive
Interference:
Single Slit Diffraction

Phase difference as a function of angle:

Intensity as a function of phase difference:


Example: 633 nm laser light is passed through a narrow slit
and a diffraction pattern is observed on a screen 6.0 m away.
The distance on the screen between the centers of the first
minima outside the central bright fringe is 32 mm. What is the
slit width?
Single Slit Diffraction
In Each of the Double Slits?

If the slit width is comparable to wavelength instead of


much smaller then one must also consider single slit
diffraction in the double slit experiment.
Diffraction Gratings

Derivation of maxima and minima similar to double slit.


More intense and sharper maxima.

Constructive Interference:

∆L
http://h2physics.org/?cat=49
Example: the wavelengths of visible light are from
approximately 400 nm (violet) to 700 nm (red). Find the
angular width of the first-order visible spectrum produced by a
plane grating with 600 slits per millimeter when white light falls
normally on the grating.

700 nm* 400 nm

angle?
Example: the wavelengths of visible light are from
approximately 400 nm (violet) to 700 nm (red). Find the
angular width of the first-order visible spectrum produced by a
plane grating with 600 slits per millimeter when white light falls
normally on the grating.
X-ray Diffraction

Regular spacing of atoms in a material can yield


pattern that can be used to determine the spacing.

Complex regular patterns in three dimensions can be


determined.
Resolving Power

If the minimum wavelength difference that can be


resolved by a diffraction grating is given by

then the resolving power is

where is the average of the two wavelengths.

It can be shown that

where is the number of slits and refers to the


th-order maxima.
Example: Light from mercury vapor lamps contain several
wavelengths in the visible region of the spectrum including two
yellow lines at 577 and 579 nm. What must be the resolving
power of a grating to distinguish these two lines?

mercury
Example: how many lines of the grating must be illuminated if
these two wavelengths are to be resolved in the first-order
spectrum?

mercury
Finding Maxima and Minima

Double slit maxima (constructive interference)

Single slit minima (destructive interference)

Diffraction grating maxima (constructive interference)


Intensity

Maximum intensity corresponds to constructive


interference (bright fringes).

Double slit
Phase difference: Intensity:
∆

Single slit
Phase difference: Intensity:

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