Lecture 02
22.3 The Diffraction Grating
22.4 Single-Slit Diffraction
Youngs Double-Slit Experiment (Review)
r d sin
Construct interference (bright fringes)
L
L
r d sin m sin m m m m ym m
y ym 1 ym
d
d
d
d
Destructive interference (dark)
1
1
1
1 L
r d sin (m ) sin m ( m ) m ( m ) ym ( m )
2
2 d
2 d
2 d
Diffraction Grating: Many Slits
Construct interference (same as double-slit)
d sin m ym L tan m
Fringes are brighter and narrower
I max N 2 I1
Applications: Optical Spectroscopy
Construct interference
d sin m m ym L tan m
Most spectrometers use reflection
grating for convenience
Single-Slit Diffraction
Diffraction through
a tall, narrow slit is
known as single-slit
diffraction.
A viewing screen is
placed distance L
behind the slit of
width a, and we will
assume that L a.
Phet: Wave Interference
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Light/single-slit: width, wavelength
Huygens Principle: How Light Propagates
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Analyzing Single-Slit Diffraction
The figure shows a
wave front passing
through a narrow slit
of width a.
According to Huygens
principle, each point
on the wave front can
be thought of as the
source of a spherical
wavelet.
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Analyzing Single-Slit Diffraction
The figure shows the paths
of several wavelets that
travel straight ahead to the
central point on the screen.
The screen is very far to the
right in this magnified view
of the slit.
The paths are very nearly
parallel to each other, thus
all the wavelets travel the
same distance and arrive
at the screen in phase with
each other.
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Analyzing Single-Slit Diffraction
In this figure, wavelets
1 and 2 start from points
that are a/2 apart.
Every point on the wave
front can be paired with
another point distance
a/2 away.
If the path-length
difference is r = /2,
the wavelets arrive at the
screen out of phase and
interfere destructively.
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Analyzing Single-Slit Diffraction
The first destructive interference
a
sin p
2
2
sin
p 1, 2,3,...
If a>>, sin ~ 0: no diffraction
If a=, sin ~ 1: slit becomes a single
point source (emit to all directions)
Diffraction effect important when a ~ n
For small angles:
sin p
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p p
Single-Slit Diffraction
The light pattern from a
single slit consists of a
central maximum flanked
by a series of weaker
secondary maxima and
dark fringes.
The dark fringes occur at
angles:
sin p
p p
y p L tan p L p L
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p 1, 2,3,...
The Width of a Single-Slit Diffraction Pattern
The central maximum of this single-slit
diffraction pattern is much brighter than
the secondary maximum.
The width of the central maximum on
a screen a distance L away is twice
the spacing between the dark fringes
on either side:
The farther away from the screen (larger L), the wider the
pattern of light becomes.
The narrower the opening (smaller a), the wider the pattern
of light becomes!
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QuickCheck 22.9
A laboratory experiment produces
a single-slit diffraction pattern on a
screen. If the slit is made narrower,
the bright fringes will be
A. Closer together.
B. In the same positions.
C. Farther apart.
D. There will be no fringes
because the conditions for
diffraction wont be satisfied.
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QuickCheck 22.9
A laboratory experiment produces
a single-slit diffraction pattern on a
screen. If the slit is made narrower,
the bright fringes will be
A. Closer together.
B. In the same positions.
C. Farther apart.
D. There will be no fringes
because the conditions for
diffraction wont be satisfied.
Minima between the bright fringes are at y p L.
p
a
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QuickCheck 22.8
In a laboratory experiment, a diffraction
grating produces an interference pattern
on a screen. If the number of slits in the
grating is increased, with everything else
(including the slit spacing) the same, then
A. The fringes stay the same brightness and get closer together.
B. The fringes stay the same brightness and get farther apart.
C. The fringes stay in the same positions but get brighter and
narrower.
D. The fringes stay in the same positions but get dimmer and
wider.
E. The fringes get brighter, narrower, and closer together.
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QuickCheck 22.8
In a laboratory experiment, a diffraction
grating produces an interference pattern
on a screen. If the number of slits in the
grating is increased, with everything else
(including the slit spacing) the same, then
A. The fringes stay the same brightness and get closer together.
B. The fringes stay the same brightness and get farther apart.
C. The fringes stay in the same positions but get brighter and
narrower.
D. The fringes stay in the same positions but get dimmer and
wider.
E. The fringes get brighter, narrower, and closer together.
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Practice
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Practice
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Practice
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Practice
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Practice
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Practice
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