Diffraction

Introduction, Theory
Source:
https://waves.neocities.org/diffractionpatterns.html
Visit the links below:
https://www.edumedia-sciences.com/en/media/160-diffraction
https://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/topics/light/A_level/diffraction_AS.htm
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/wave-interference/latest/wave-
interference_en.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mNQW5OShMA

https://www.schoolphysics.co.uk/age14-
16/Wave%20properties/text/Diffraction_/index.html
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1e/a6/c4/1ea6c43900cc
b680f22cea079832e295.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnZTS6yyxbA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NazBRcMDOOo
 Difference between interference and diffraction:
Interference Diffraction
1. It is the result of interaction of light 1. It is the result of interaction of light
coming from two different wavefronts coming from different parts of the same
originating from two coherent sources. wavefront.

2. Interference fringes may or may not 2. Diffraction fringes are not of the
be of the same width. same width.

3. Points of minimum intensity are 3. Points of minimum intensity may not

perfectly dark. be perfectly dark.

4. All bright bands are of uniform 4. All bright bands are not of the
intensity. same intensity.
Diffraction:
Definition:
The phenomenon of bending of light around the corners of an
obstacle is called diffraction.
or
The encroachment of light in the geometrical shadow is called
diffraction.
Condition for diffraction:
If the size or dimension of an obstacle is comparable to the size or
dimension of the wave, diffraction is more pronounced.
 bright

Geometrical
shadow

Source

Obstacle bright

Fig (i): Diffraction of light

 Geometrical
shadow

bright

Source
Geometrical
Slit
shadow

Fig (ii): Diffraction of light

 Difference between Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction:
Fresnel diffraction Fraunhofer diffraction
1. The light suffering diffraction 1. The light suffering diffraction is
is not modified by lenses or modified by lenses or mirrors.
mirrors.
2. In this case, either source or 2. In this case, either source or
the screen or both are at finite the screen or both are at
distance from the obstacle or infinite distance from the
aperture. obstacle or aperture.

3. The incident wavefront is 3. The incident and the

either spherical or cylindrical. diffracted wavefronts are plane.
Fraunhofer diffraction through a single slit:

P
A
This point C will be
o C maxima if no diffraction
occurs.
B

Converging (convex
Plane or biconvex) lens
wavefront Slit Screen
 L L is the converging lens which
converges the horizontal beam
to the point C, which is the
d central maxima.
Let the angle of diffraction
D be .
The point P will be maxima or
minima depending upon the
path difference between the
diffracted rays coming from the
Let us consider a slit of width ‘d’. Let a plane points A and B.
wavefront be incident on it.
Then each point acts as the source of
secondary disturbance.
 Now, draw AN normal to the
diffracted ray coming from B.

P Then the path difference

A
between the diffracted rays
o C coming from A and B is BN.
N
B
Now, in ABN,

Converging
Plane Slit (convex or So,
wavefront biconvex) lens Screen
Now, divide the slit into two equal parts or zones, each of width d/2.

Then, the path difference between the light rays coming from the points A and O is

Then, by Fresnel’s law (of half period zone),

(1st minima)
Again, divide the slit into four equal parts or zones, each of width d/4.
Then, by Fresnel’s law (of half period zone),
 (2nd minima)

Similarly, if we divide the slit into 2n equal parts or zones, each of width
d/2n,

(nth minima)
Hence in general, , n = 1,2,3,……..

Similarly, secondary maxima are given by the equation

Intensity pattern in Fraunhofer diffraction due to a single slit:
Intensity

0
 To find the distance of the nth minima from the central maxima:
For the nth minima,

From PCO,

where CP =

For small angle

,
So,
This gives the distance of the nth
minima from the central maxima.
Then, the distance of the
1st minima from the central
maxima is give by

Also, half width of

the central maxima

And width of the central maxima

Half angular width of the central maxima =
Angular width of the central maxima =
Now, the distance between the consecutive minima =

Central
maxima
Secondary
maxima
which is same as the half width
of the central maxima
or
Secondary minima the width of the secondary maxima.
Numericals:
1. In Fraunhofer’s diffraction due to a narrow slit, a screen is
placed 2 m away from the lens to obtain the pattern. If the
slit width is 0.2 mm and the first minima lie 5 mm on either
side of the central maxima, find the wavelength of light.
Ans: 5000 𝐴0
2. Light of wavelength 5000 𝐴0 is incident on a slit of width 0.30 mm. The
screen is placed 2m away from the slit. Find the position of the first dark fringe
and width of the central bright fringe. (Ans: 4x10^-3 m, 8 mm)

3. Diffraction pattern of a single slit of width 0.5 cm is formed by a lens of

focal length 40 cm. Calculate the distance between the first dark and the
next bright fringe from the axis. Wavelength = 4890 𝐴0
(Ans : 1.596x10^-2mm)
 Plane transmission grating ( Diffraction grating):

A Definition:
a It is a glass plate
B P
b having a large
C number of lines such
a that each line blocks
D O
light and the spacing
b
between the lines
transmits light.

Diffraction grating Lens Screen

 However, if N is the number of lines
per cm or per mm or per m,

Consider a diffraction grating

having N number of lines per Here,
inch.
Then the grating element is
given by
 Let be the angle of
diffraction such that the
diffracted rays are converged
to the point P.
Then P may be the point of
maxima or minima depending
upon the path difference
between the diffracted rays.
The lens converges the horizontal rays
to the point O.
Then O is the central maxima.
 Then, CN gives the path
difference between the
diffracted rays coming from
the points A and C.

For P to be maxima,
Now, draw AN perpendicular to the diffracted ray Path difference (CN) =
coming from the point C.
 Hence the diffraction grating equation is

This equation gives the point of maxima.

Dispersive power:
It is denoted by and is defined as the ratio of the

difference in angles of diffraction to the difference in wavelengths

of the neighboring spectral lines.
Expression: Since the diffraction grating equation is
 Differentiating w.r.t. ‘ ’, we get

Or,

Hence,

Resolving power: It is denoted by and is defined as the ratio of

the wavelength of a spectral line to the difference in wavelengths of
neighboring spectral lines.
It is given by

where
Fraunhofer diffraction through double slits:
X

a
Q
b O P

Y Lens
Screen
In this case, both interference and diffraction occur.
(i) For interference:
Let be the angle of inclination for maxima, then, as in diffraction grating,
the path difference is given by

Let be the angle of inclination for minima, then the path difference is
given by
The angular separation between any two successive maxima or minima is
given by

(ii) For diffraction:

As in Fraunhofer’s diffraction through single slit,
The diffraction minima is given by

And the diffraction maxima is given by

And:
Don’t forget to watch the lecture by Walter Lewin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKO8n_-xtDc
Exam
Q. If a and b be slit width and the line width respectively in Fraunhofer’s
diffraction through double slits, determine the missing orders.