Diffraction at a single slit

a= a=2 a=4

Semi circular First minima & maxima

wave fronts become visible

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

 Diffraction at a single slit

a= a=2 a=4

Semi circular First minima & maxima

wave fronts become visible

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

 Diffraction at a single slit

a= a=2 a=4

Semi circular First minima & maxima

wave fronts become visible

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

 Diffraction at a single slit

a= a=2 a=4

Semi circular First minima & maxima

wave fronts become visible

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

 Diffraction at a single slit

a= a=2 a=4

Semi circular First minima & maxima

wave fronts become visible

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

 Diffraction at a single slit

a= a=2 a=4

Semi circular First minima & maxima

wave fronts become visible

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

It can be shown that the first minima occurs when sin = /a .

First minima

a
T Central maxima
It can be shown that the first minima occurs when sin = /a .

First minima

a
T Central maxima

Q1 Find the angle at which the first minima occurs using microwaves
of wavelength 3 cm when directed towards a gap of:
1) 6cm
2) 4cm
It can be shown that the first minima occurs when sin = /a .

First minima

a
T Central maxima

Q1 Find the angle at which the first minima occurs using microwaves
of wavelength 3 cm when directed towards a gap of:
1) 6cm
2) 4cm

Q2 Find the angle at which the first minima occurs using lightwaves
of wavelength 500 nm when directed towards a pupil of diameter:
1) 6mm
2) 4mm
D
D
 D

Points to note:
* central fringe is twice as wide as the other fringes
* intensity decreases from the centre
* Central Fringe width W = /a x 2D
 D

Visit :
http://www.phys.hawaii.edu/~teb/optics/java/slitdiffr/

Points to note: Blue light has narrower fringes

So cameras and microscopes
* central fringe is twice as wide as the other fringes can see more detail
* intensity decreases from the centre using blue filters

* Central Fringe width W = /a x 2D

 WAVES

a = width of
the gap
For first
minimum
Or for small
sin a angles in
radians

a
How do you get the minima

A
wave trains arrive
/2
a C D in phase at the
central maxima.

B Q First minima

AQ is /2 longer than CQ so is out of phase by giving destructive interference

Corresponding points along AB which are /2 apart also cause
destructive interference.
How do you get the minima

A
wave trains arrive
a C in phase at the
central maxima.

B Q First minima
How do you get the minima

A
wave trains arrive
a C
/2
D in phase at the
central maxima.

B Q First minima

AQ is /2 longer than CQ so is out of phase by giving destructive interference

Corresponding points along AB which are /2 apart also cause
destructive interference.
How do you get the minima ?
CD = = a sin
2 2

= a sin

= sin
Q a

/2
a C D

B Q First minima

AQ is /2 longer than CQ so is out of phase by giving destructive interference

Corresponding points along AB which are /2 apart also cause
destructive interference.
Diffraction by a Double Slit
The double slit pattern is superimposed on the much broader single slit diffraction pattern.
The bright central maximum is crossed by the double slit interference pattern, but the intensity still
falls to zero where minima are predicted from single slit diffraction. The brightness of each bright
fringe due to the double slit pattern will be modulated by the intensity envelope of the single slit
pattern.

The double slit

Single slit fringes are still in
the same place
pattern

Double slit pattern

 Experimental observations from the double slit

i) For a pair of slits 0.5 mm apart:

red blue

ii) Using white light, fringes appear from all the various wavelength
and do not overlap exactly, hence coloured fringes

* Inner fringes are tinged with blue on the inside

and red ison
Diffraction thethe outside
spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.
If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

 Experimental observations from the double slit contd

iii) Fringes obtained using slits 0.5 mm apart drawn with different w

(a) (b)

(a) thin slits

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

 Experimental observations from the double slit contd

iii) Fringes obtained using slits 0.5 mm apart drawn with different w

The double slit interference

(a) (b) pattern is modulated
by the single slit pattern

(a) thin slits

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.

 Experimental observations from the double slit contd

iii) Fringes obtained using slits 0.5 mm apart drawn with different w

The double slit interference

(a) (b) pattern is modulated
by the single slit pattern

(b) thick slits Missing fringes

(a) thin slits

Diffraction is the spreading of wavefronts around corners and obstacles.

If the slit gets narrower diffraction increases.

If the wavelength increases diffraction increases.