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DIFFRACTION
Diffraction Of Light
Bending of light rays from sharp edges of an opaque obstacle or aperture and its spreading in
the geometrical shadow region is defined as diffraction of light or deviation of light from its
rectilinear propagation tendency is defined as diffraction of light.

diffraction from obstacle diffraction from aperture

 Diffraction was discovered by Garibaldi


 Theoretically explained by Fresnel



 Diffraction is possible in all type of waves means in mechanical or electromagnetic waves shows
diffraction.
Diffraction depends on two factors
(i) Size of obstacles or aperture (ii) Wave length of the wave


a a

aperture obstacle
Condition of diffraction Size of obstacle or aperture should be nearly equal to the wave length
a
of light  a  1

If size of obstacle is much greater than wave length of light, then rectilinear motion of light is
observed.


 It is practically observed when size of aperture or obstacle is greater than 50 then obstacle or
aperture does not shows diffraction.
 Wave length of light is in the order 10–7 m. In general obstacle of this wave length is not present


so light rays does not show diffraction and it appears to travel in straight line Sound wave shows
more diffraction as compare to light rays because wavelength of sound is high (16 mm to 16m).
So it is generally diffracted by the objects in our daily life.


 Diffraction of ultrasonic wave is also not observed as easily as sound wave because their
wavelength is of the order of about 1 cm. Diffraction of radio waves is very conveniently
observed because of its very large wavelength (2.5 m to 250 m). X-ray can be diffracted easily
by crystal. It was discovered by Lave.

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sound sound

diffraction of sound from a window

Types Of Diffraction
(i) There are two type of diffraction of light :
(a) Fresnel's diffraction. (b) Fraunhofer's diffraction.

 Fresnel diffraction
If either source or screen or both are at finite distance from the diffracting device (obstacle or
aperture), the diffraction is called fresnel diffraction and the pattern is the shadow of the
diffracting device modified by diffraction effect.
Example :- Diffraction at a straight edge, small opaque disc, narrow wire are examples of fresnel
diffraction.
slit
screen

S S

source
source slit screen
at finite distance
at 
Fresnel's diffraction Fraunhofer's diffraction

 Fraunhofer diffraction
Fraunhofer diffraction is a particular limiting case of fresnel diffraction. In this case, both source
and screen are effectively at infinite distance from the diffracting device and pattern is the image
of source modified by diffraction effects.
Example :- Diffraction at single slit, double slit and diffraction grating are the examples of
fraunhofer diffraction.

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Comparison Between Fresnel And Fraunhofer Diffraction

Fresnel Diffraction Fraunhofer Diffraction
(a) Source and screen both are at finite Source and screen both are at infinite
distance from the diffractor. distance from the diffractor.
(b) Incident and diffracted wave fronts Incident and diffracted wavefrontsare
are spherical or cylinderical. planedue to infinite distance from source.
(c) Mirror or lenses are not used for Lens are used in this diffraction pattern.
obtaining the diffraction pattern.
(d) Centre of diffraction pattern is Centre of diffraction is always bright.
sometime bright and sometime dark depending on
size of diffractor and distance ofobservation
point.
(e) Amplitude of wave coming from Amplitude of waves coming from different
different half period zones are different due to half period zones are same due to same obliquity.
difference of obliquity.

Fraunhofer Diffraction Due To Single Slit

AB is single slit of width a, Plane wave front is incident on a slit AB. Secondary wavelets
coming from every part of AB reach the axial point P in same phase forming the central maxima.
The intensity of central maxima is maximum in this diffraction. Where n represents direction of
nth minima Path difference BB' = a sin n
L1 A L2
n

S a n O

n x
n
B P
D

n
for nth minima a sin n = n  sin n  n  (if n is small)
a
 When path difference between the secondary wavelets coming from
  nt
incide ave
A and B is nor 2n   or even multiple of then minima occurs plane
w lens
2

For minima a sin n  2n   where n = 1, 2, 3, ...
2 long
narrow slit
diffraction
pattern
 When path difference between the secondary wavelets coming
from
 
A and B is (2n+1) or odd multiple of then maxima occurs
2 2

For maxima asinn = (2n + 1) where n = 1, 2, 3 ...
2
n = 1  first maxima and n = 2 second maxima

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 In alternate order minima and maxima occurs on both sides of central maxima.
For nth minima
If distance of nth minima from central maxima = xn
distance of slit from screen = D , width of slit = a P'
xn
2n n  P
Path difference = a sinn =  sin n     O
n
 n

2 a
P"
xn D
In POP' tan n  If n is small  sin n  tan n  n
D
nD x n
xn   n  n  First minima occurs both sides on central maxima.
a D a
D x 
For first minima x  and   
a D a
2 D
 Linear width of central maxima wx = 2xwx =
a
2
 Angular width of central maxima w= 2 
a

Special Case
Lens L2 is shifted very near to slit AB. In this case distance between slit and screen will be nearly
x n nf
equal to the focal length of lenseL2 (i.e. D f ) n = n   xn =
f a a
2f 2 x 2
wx= and angular width of central maxima wB = 
a f a
L2
A

B
D~f


Fringe width: Distance between two consecutive maxima (bright fringe) or minima (dark
fringe) is known as fringe width. Fringe width of central maxima is doubled then the width of
other maximum i.e.
D nD D
= xn + 1 – xn = (n + 1) – = 
a a a











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Intensity curve of Fraunhofer's diffraction

Intensity of maxima in Fraunhofer's diffraction is determined by
2
 2  I0
I=   I0
 (2n  1) 
I0 =intensity of central maxima
n = order of maxima I0 I0
I0 22 22 I0
4 I 61
Intensity of first maxima I1 = 2 I 0  0 61
9 22 / a / a 0 / a / a
4 I Angle 
Intensity of second maxima I2 = I  0
2 0
25 61


 Diffraction occurs in slit is always fraunhofer diffraction as diffraction pattern obtained from the
cracks between the fingers, when viewed a distant tubelight and in YDSE experiment are
fraunhofer diffraction.

Difference Between Interference And Diffraction

Interference Diffraction
(1) It is the phenomenon of (1) It is the phenomenon of
superposition of two waves coming from two superposition of two waves coming from two
different coherent sources. different parts of the same wave front.
(2) In interference pattern, all (2) All bright lines are not equally
bright lines are equally bright and equally bright and equally wide. Brightness and width goes
spaced. on decreasing with the angle of diffraction.
(3) All dark lines are totally dark (3) Dark lines are not perfectly dark.
Their contrast with bright lines and width goes on
decreasing with angle of diffraction.
(4) In interference bands are large (4) In diffraction bands are a few in
in number number.

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Eg. In a double-slit experiment, green light (5303 Å) falls on a double slit having a separation of
19.44 µm and a width of 4.05 µm. The number of bright fringes between the first and the second
diffraction minima is :- [JEE Main 2019]
(1) 10 (2) 05 (3) 09 (4) 04

Ans. (2)
Sol.

A 1st Diff. Minima

B 2nd Diff. Minima

For Diffraction : b sin = n (dark fringe)

1. Y1
First Minima = sin = 
b D
D
Y1 =  0.246
b
2D
For 2nd Minima = Y2 =  0.493 D
b
For Interference:
x = n will be bright fringe
Path Difference
At point A
 dY  d(0.246 D )
x =  1    4.8
 D  D

At point B
dY2 d(0.4938 D)
Path Difference =   9.6
D D
Thus when Path Difference  5, 6, 7, 8, 9there will be bright fringe.
Thus answer is 5

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Eg. Visible light of wavelength 6000 × 10–8 cm falls normally on a single slit and produces a
diffraction pattern. It is found that the second diffraction minimum is at 60° from the central
maximum. If the first minimum is produced at 1, then 2 is close to: [JEE MAIN 2020]
(1) 20º (2) 25º (3) 30º (4) 45º

Ans. (2)
Sol.  = 6000 × 10–8 cm
for 2nd minima
d sin =2
d sin60º = 2
4
d=
3
for first minima
d sin = 1

sin =
d
 3
 sin       25
4 4
3
Eg. Consider the diffraction pattern obtained from the sunlight incident on a pinhole of diameter
0.1m. If the diameter of the pinhole is slightly increased, it will affect the diffraction pattern
such that: [JEE MAIN 2021 ]
(1) its size decreases, and intensity decreases
(2) its size increases, and intensity increases
(3) its size increases, but intensity decreases
(4) its size decreases, but intensity increases

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m
Sol. sin  
a
When “a” increases, decreases,
decreases, width decreases so intensity will increase

Resolving Power (R.P.)

A large number of images are formed as a consequence of light diffraction from a source. If two
sources are separated such that their central maxima do not overlap, their images can be
distinguished and are said to be resolved R.P. of an optical instrument is its ability to distinguish
two neighboring points.
Linear R.P. = d/D here D = Observed distance
Angular R.P. = d/ d = Distance between two points
Microscope: In reference to a microscope, the minimum distance between two lines at which they
are just distinct is called Resolving limit (RL) and it's reciprocal is called Resolving power (RP)
 2 µ sin  1
R.L.  and R.P.   R.P. 
2 µ sin   
 = Wavelength of light used to illuminate the object
µ = Refractive index of the medium between object and objective,
 = Half angle of the cone of light from the point object, µsin
µsin = Numerical aperture.
Telescope: Smallest angular separations (d
(d)) between two distant object, whose images are
1.22
separated in the telescope is called resolving limit. So resolving limit d   and resolving
a
1 a 1
power (RP) =   R.P.  where a = aperture of objective.
d  1.22 

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Eg. A microscope was initially placed in air (refractive index 1). It is then immersed in oil (refractive
index 2). For a light whose wavelength in air is , calculate the change of microscope’s resolving
power due to oil and choose the correct option [JEE MAIN 2022]
1
(1) Resolving power will be in the oil than it was in the air
4
(2) Resolving power will be twice in the oil than it was in the air.
(3) Resolving power will be four times in the oil than it was in the air.
t3  t
(4) Resolving power will be   0  2t 2 –  t 2  2 –   0 in the oil than it was in the air.
3  3

Ans. (3)
 sin 
Sol. (R.P)air 
1.22
 sin  2 sin   
(R.P)oil  
1.22 oil 1.22
(R.P) oil  (R.P)air  2

Diffraction 9