Lab VII Problem 1: Interference Due to a Double Slit

Salah Osman 4308118

April 28, 2015
Physics 1202W, Professor: Paul Haines, TA: Ming Li

Abstract
In order to evaluate and categorize viruses by size, it was required that another option be
explored. By using coherent light to illuminate small objects and create a diffraction
pattern, the size of the object was determined from its diffraction pattern. This diffraction
technique will be used on viruses to investigate their properties. To determine size and
form of the object and apply it to viruses, the patterns produced in the form of
diffractions were studied. To measure viruses, an optical microscope cannot be used as it
relies on geometric optics in that it treats light as a straight line ray instead of a wave.
Understandably, an alternative method is to use diffraction as a means of measuring the
size of a virus and understanding its properties.
Introduction
A group is involved in a project investigating properties of viruses. The need to categorize
viruses by size, but have found that they are too small to view with any microscope that uses
visible light. They understand, however, that for a small object illuminated by coherent light, a
diffraction pattern will be formed rather than an image. The size of an object can be determined
from its diffraction pattern, and they would like to try a diffraction technique with viruses. Two
issues arise. The first is how to determine the size on an object from its diffraction pattern. The
second issue has to do with the form in which the viruses will be studied. The group can isolate a
single type of virus but cannot isolate a single example of the virus. As a result, the pattern
produced by several viruses in very close proximity to one another must be studied.
In this problem light interference was studied in a simplified system. This experiment
investigated the interference pattern due to more than one object. A diode laser is the light
source, and pairs of closely spaced slits will represent the viruses. The patterns formed on a
screen by coherent light are of main interestpassing through a pair of narrow slits, in addition
to understanding how that pattern depends on the separation of the slits.

Prediction
By using concepts introduced in physical optics, an expression was derived describing the
double-slit interference pattern that relates the vertical positions of interference maxima on the
screen to: the distance between the slits, the distance between the slide and the screen, and the
wavelength of the lasers radiation.

According
to
Thomas
Young,
interference occurs
when
two waves of equal
intensity
cancel
each
other.
In
this
experiment,
constructive
interference
is
observed.
Constructive
interference occurs
when
two
interfering
waves have a displacement in the same direction. Huygens Principle states, light wave fronts
can be broken down into point sources of light and spherical light waves are radiated by each slit.
Emanating from each slit are light waves that are superposed on the screen.

Let L be the perpendicular distance from the slit to the screen, d be the width of the two slits, and
be the wavelength of light emitted from diode laser, is essentially the phase difference
between the two lights. The diagram above shows that the condition for constructive interference
on the opposite screen is that the difference in path-length r, wavelengths between the two
waves is an integer. Deriving an equation that measures distance of inference pattern.
r = m or r2 - r1 = (m+1/2) where m = 0, 1, 2

The angular location of the mth bright spot on the screen is given by, dsin =

(m+ 12 ) L
d

dy
dL , y =

where y is the distance from the center of the interference pattern to mth bright

line in the pattern and y = distance between dark spots.

So for example if we wanted to know the distance between m = 1 and m = 0, then y =

(1+ 12 ) L
d

( +12 ) L

spaced with spacing:

L
d

= y. The minima and the maximum should be equally

L
d .

Procedure

Fig 1 source: physics.bu.edu

Fig 2 source: cronodom.com

This experiment required the use of a diode laser, a slide with four sets of double slits, a
magnetic slide holder, a screen, an optical bench, and a ruler. The laser and the slide with the
double slits was arranged on the optics bench. The laser was parallel to the optics bench and
perpendicular to the slide, and its beam was aimed at one of the pairs of slits. The screen was
vertical and perpendicular to the optics bench. It was made sure both slits were illuminated
properly.
The positions were adjusted so that an interference pattern on the screen could be clearly
observed. It was predicted that the interference pattern on the screen would consist of alternating
light and dark bands, running parallel to the slits. As expected, this was indeed the case. The
bands were equally spaced with some thickness. Due to a large ratio between L/d, it was possible
to observe a banded interference pattern on the screen; according to the University of Texas
Physics, this pattern was direct consequence of the wave nature of light, and its inexplicable on
the basis of geometric optics.
The laser light in this experiment is significant because the main point is to demonstrate that light
demonstrates characteristics of waves. With regards to light passing through a double slit, the
wave nature of light causes an interference to occur. Furthermore, a smaller slit would cause a
greater angle of spread.

Data
True wavelength of laser = 650e-9 m
Trial 1

Experimental (0.25mm slit)

0
0
0

f(x) = 0x - 0

Y experimental 0
0
0
0

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

Length of slit on optics bench

Length
of
bench (m)
0.6

Length
of
slit, Y
slit, bench
Y experimental
(m)
experimental
(m)
(m)
0.00225
0.5
0.000875

0.5

0.0025
0.6

0.000889

0.4

0.00125
0.8

0.001

0.3

0.001
0.7

0.000889

0.2

0.0005

0.1

0.00025

Trial 2

Experimental (0.5mm slit)

0
0
0

Y experimental

f(x) = 0x + 0

0
0
0
0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Length of slit on optics bench

Predicted (0.25mm)

Predicted (0.25mm slit)

0
0
0
0
0

Y predicted 0
0
0
0
0

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

Length of slit on optics bench

Length of slit,
bench (m)
0.6

Y predicted
(m)
0.00156

0.5

0.0013

0.4

0.00104

0.3

0.00078

0.2

0.00052

0.1

0.00026

Predicted (0.5mm)

Predicted (0.5mm slit)

0
0
0

Y predicted 0
0
0
0
0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Length of slit on optics bench

Analysis
The predicted sketches
measurements
graphs.
From the
function
can
be
= mx + b, in which y

Length of
bench (m)
0.5

slit, Y
predicted
(m)
0.00065

0.6

0.00078

0.8

0.00104

0.7

0.00091

slope m is equal to
corresponds to the mode m. Setting the slope equal to
L
d

Slope =

prepared
during
compare fairly to the
graphs above, a linear
derived in the form of y
corresponds to Ym, the
L
and
x
d ,

L
d , wavelength can be elucidated.

( slope ) d
L

slope = y

value
|actual valueexperimental
| 100
predicted value

error =

For the first trial, the wavelength and errors are the following:
=

( slope ) d
L

( 0.0005 ) 0.00025
0.2

( 0.00025 ) 0.00025
0.1

= 625 nm

= 625 nm

nm
|650 nm625
|100
650 nm

error =

= 4%

For the second trial, the wavelength and errors are the following:
=

( slope ) d
L

( 0.001 ) 0.0005
0.8

nm
|650 nm625
|100
650 nm

error =

( 0.000889 ) 0.0005
0.7

= 625 nm

= 4%

= 635 nm

nm
|650 nm635
|100
650 nm

error =

= 2.3%

There seems to be general trend in which wavelengths derived generally matches the actual
wavelengths as seen from the percent error. The experimental wavelengths are slightly less than
the true value of the wavelength which measures at 650nm indicating almost consistent values.
While the laser was 650nm, acceptable values of wavelength for Helium Neon lasers range from
543nm to 633nm. Error could have resulted from multiple sources. While laser could be tuned to
match environment, precision proved to be an issue as it made it difficult to measure slit widths
and separations. The accuracy of the ruler could also serve as a source of error as measurements
were made by visual estimation instead of with precision. When measuring the distance of dark
spots to the strong central diffraction maximum, measurements were taken to the millimeter
essentially by estimation. This signified that limited accuracy of meterstick and bench ruler were
likely sources of error and uncertainty. Another source of error is the difficulty of identifying the
exact center of the dark spots.

Conclusion
In order to evaluate categorize viruses by size, it was required that another option be explored.
By using coherent light to illuminate small objects and create a diffraction pattern, the size of the
object was determined from its diffraction pattern. This diffraction technique will be used on
viruses to investigate their properties. To determine size and form of the object and apply it to
viruses, the patterns produced in the form of diffractions were studied.
The double slit diffraction is a result of wave interference. Due to diffraction, light waves from
the diode laser passing through the two slits spread out. The rays from the edges of the slits are
nearly parallel as the distance between slits is small in comparison to the distance where
diffraction pattern is observed, d<<L, d being the distance between the slits and L the
perpendicular distance from the slit to the screen. Constructive interference is a result of double
slit diffraction, in which the waves add up constructively. Since dark bands were also observed
on the screen, this corresponded to the light waves destructively interfering. Features of a twoslit interference pattern are caused by light from one slit interfering with light from the other slit
and can be differentiated. Moreover, features due to light from part of one slit interfering with
light from another part of the same slit can be distinguished.
With the results of this experiment in consideration, the possibility of determining the size of a
single virus from the pattern due to several copies of the same virus in close proximity to one
another cannot be ruled out. Given the size of a common virus is on the order of 10 -6 m to 10-8m,
their properties could be understood as the fit the nature of this experiment with regards to
measurementsmore precise equipment will need to be used though. To measure viruses, an
optical microscope cannot be used as it relies on geometric optics in that it treats light as a
straight line ray instead of a wave. Understandably, an alternative method is to use diffraction as
a means of measuring the size of a virus and understanding its properties.