Diffraction

Chapter 36:

DIFFRACTION

interference of many waves from many

sources or from a continuous source
happens when a wave encounters
apertures, barriers, or edges
apply principle of superposition of waves
Remark: There is really no fundamental
distinction between the terms interference
and diffraction.

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Comparison of multiple slits

From double to multiple slits
N=2

N=3

N=4

N=5

At this point, we will neglect the

effect of the width of the slits.
Let us assume that the slit widths
are very narrow.
narrow

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Comparison of intensity
25 Io

Let Io = intensity from each slit

Summary:

multiple slits (neglect widths)

Principal maxima
separation does not depend on N:

16 Io

9 Io

y =

R
d

maximum intensity is proportional to N2 :

I max = N 2 Islit

4 Io

become narrower (sharper) as N increases

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Summary:

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Example 1

multiple slits (neglect widths)

Secondary maxima
there will be (N 2) secondary maxima in
between adjacent principal maxima

How many slits could have produced the

diffraction pattern shown below?

8 slits

there will be (N 1) minima in between

adjacent principal maxima
no secondary maxima for a 2-slit setup

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Example 2
If 128 mW/m2 is the maximum intensity in the
diffraction pattern below, how much intensity
is passing through each slit?

SINGLE-slit
diffraction
SINGLE

2 mW/m2
At this point, we now have to
consider the effect of the
width of the slit !!!

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Effect of wavelength
and slit width

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Single-slit diffraction
Effect of wavelength

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Single-slit diffraction

Single-slit diffraction

Effect of aperture size

Effect of aperture size

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Effect of slit width

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Single-slit diffraction

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Single-slit diffraction

Summary: single slit

Central bright maximum (CBM)
Width:

w=2

Half-width:

R
a

w half =

R
a

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Summary: single slit

Summary: single slit

Dark fringes

Intensity distribution

squared !

Positions:

y=

mR
a

a
sin R y

I = I max
a y
R

Note: m = 1, 2,
m = 0 is not included !

Note: sin(x) / x is also called the sinc(x)

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Example 1

Example 2

Which plot best represents the diffraction pattern

formed by the single narrowest slit?
I

The width of the central maximum in a single

slit diffraction pattern is Y when the slit width
is w. What will be the width of the central
maximum if w is doubled?

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Example 3
Monochromatic light of wavelength 600 nm
passes through a single slit of width 12 m.
For a screen 0.5 m away, what is the width of
the central fringe in the diffraction pattern?

Example 4
Which among the ROYGBV colors of light will
yield the largest width of the bright central
maximum after passing through a single slit?

Red

0.05 m = 5 cm

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Example 5
Light of wavelength 600 nm from a distant
source passes through a slit resulting to a
diffraction pattern on a distant screen. If the
first diffraction minima are at 30, what is
the width of the slit?

1200 nm

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Back to the multiple slits

At this point, we will consider the
effect of the width of the slits.

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Key idea:

Double-slit diffraction

The resulting intensity pattern is just a

modulated version of the ideal case.
Modulation is done by enveloping with
the single-slit intensity pattern
corresponding to the width of the slit
[i.e. the sinc2(x) function].

single-slit envelope
Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Comparison of single- and

double-slit diffraction patterns

Three-slit diffraction

Modulated by the single-slit

intensity pattern

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Five-slit diffraction

Example 1
Consider a double-slit setup. The two slits are
separated by 2 cm, while each slit has a width
of 0.5 cm. How many bright fringes will be
observed within the central maximum of
the diffraction pattern formed on a very far
screen?

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Example 2
Two parallel slits of width 100m and separated
by a distance of 500m are illuminated by a
monochromatic light. How many bright fringes
are contained within the central maximum of
the diffraction pattern?

Example 3
A diffraction pattern (shown below) is formed
by a double-slit setup. What is the probable
ratio of the slit separation to the slit width?
width

9
Equation:

d
2 1
a

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Effect of ratio of slit

separation and slit width

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

George Biddell Airy

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Diffraction

Applications
spectroscopy

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

CD
DVD
BD

The dark lady

Rosalind
Franklin

Photograph 51 (1953)

(1920-1958)

Watson

Crick

Wilkins
(1962)

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

X-ray crystallography

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]

Physics 72 ARCIAGA [Chapter 36]