Interference and Diffraction

Physics Mrs. Coyle

Lights Nature
Wave nature (electromagnetic wave) Particle nature (bundles of energy called photons)

Past- Separate Theories of Either Wave or Particle Nature

Corpuscular theory of Newton (1670) Light corpuscles have mass and travel at extremely high speeds in straight lines Huygens (1680) Wavelets-each point on a wavefront acts as a source for the next wavefront

Why was it difficult to prove the wave part of the nature of light?

Proofs of Wave Nature

Thomas Young's Double Slit Experiment (1807) bright (constructive) and dark (destructive) fringes seen on screen

Thin Film Interference Patterns

Poisson/Arago Spot (1820) Diffraction fringes seen within and around a small obstacle or through a narrow opening

Proof of Particle Nature: The Photoelectric Effect

Albert Einstein 1905 Light energy is quantized Photon is a quantum or packet of energy

The Photoelectric Effect

Heinrich Hertz first observed the photoelectric effect in 1887 Einstein explained it in 1905 and won the Nobel prize for this.

Thomas Youngs Double Slit Interference Experiment

Showed an interference pattern Measured the wavelength of the light

Two Waves Interfering

Youngs Double Slit Interference Pattern

http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/USEM/SciImg/home_files/introduction_files/doubleslit.jpg

Interference of Waves From Two Sources

Simulation Ripple Tank http://www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/l egacy/college/halliday/0471320005/simula tions6e/index.htm?newwindow=true

Interference
Youngs Double Slit Interference http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes /109N/more_stuff/flashlets/youngexpt 4.htm

For Constructive Interference:

The waves must arrive to the point of study in phase. So their path difference must be integral multiples of the wavelength:

DL= nl n=0,1,2,3,

For destructive interference:

, the waves must arrive to the point of study out of phase. So the path difference must be an odd multiple of l/2:

DL= n l m=1/2,3/2,5/2,.

Typical Question
Where is the first location of constructive or destructive interference?

Fo Constructive Interference of Waves from Two Sources

x=Ltanq sinq= DL/d

DL=nl
For small angles: Lsinq~Ltanq
d
q

q
L

dsinq=nl nl = dx L

n=0,1,2,3,

Double Slit Interference

dsinq=nl nl = dx L Constructive (brights) n=0,1,2,3,.. Destructive (darks) n=1/2, 3/2, 5/2,.. Note: To find maximum # of fringes set q to 90o for n.

Question
How does x change with wavelength? How does x change with slit distance?

Problem
Two slits are 0.05 m apart. A laser of wavelength 633nm is incident to the slits. A screen is placed 2m from the slits.

a) Calculate the position of the first and second bright fringe. b) What is the maximum number of destructive interference spots there can be on either side of the central maximum?

Diffraction Grating

http://des.memphis.edu/lurbano/vpython/matter_interactions/spectrum/spectrum_02.jpg

Diffraction Grating
Large number of equally spaced parallel slits. Equations are same as for double slit interference but first calculate the d (slit separation) from the grating density, N. d=1/N , N slits per unit length dsinq=nl nl = dx L Constructive (brights) n=0,1,2,3,.. Destructive (darks) n=1/2, 3/2, 5/2,..

Problem
A neon laser of wavelength 633nm is pointed at a diffraction grating of 3000lines/cm. Find the angle where the first bright occurs. (Hint: slit separation d is inverse of grating density)

Diffraction
Wave bends as it passes an obstacle.

Diffraction through a Narrow Slit

Each part of the slit acts as a point source that interferes with the others. (Based on Huygens Principle)

Pattern of Diffraction of Light through a Narrow Slit

w
L

Intensity of the Diffraction Interference Patterns

Simulation Interference of Light http://www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/l egacy/college/halliday/0471320005/simula tions6e/index.htm?newwindow=true

Diffraction from Narrow Slit

wsinq=nl l= nw y L w: is the width of the slit

Destructive (dark fringes): m=0,1,2,3,.

Questions
How does x change with the width? How does x change with the wavelength

Diffraction around a Penny and Poison Spot

Example of Diffraction