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Applied_Physics_Unit1_Clean_Notes_with_Diagrams

The document provides notes on wave optics, covering key concepts such as the principle of superposition, coherence, interference in thin films, and Newton's rings. It also discusses diffraction, including Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction, and the resolving power of gratings, as well as the polarization of light waves and their applications. The notes are structured to aid understanding of these fundamental principles in optics.

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kotaa6731
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10 views

Applied_Physics_Unit1_Clean_Notes_with_Diagrams

The document provides notes on wave optics, covering key concepts such as the principle of superposition, coherence, interference in thin films, and Newton's rings. It also discusses diffraction, including Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction, and the resolving power of gratings, as well as the polarization of light waves and their applications. The notes are structured to aid understanding of these fundamental principles in optics.

Uploaded by

kotaa6731
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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APPLIED PHYSICS NOTES

UNIT-I: WAVE OPTICS

Prepared by Abhishek
Principle of Superposition

The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves overlap in space, the resultant
disturbance at any point is the sum of the disturbances due to each individual wave. In mathematical
terms, if y1 and y2 are the displacements of two waves, the resultant displacement y at any point is
given by y = y1 + y2. This principle is fundamental in understanding phenomena like interference
and diffraction.

(Insert relevant diagram here)


Coherence

Coherence describes a fixed phase relationship between waves at different points in space and
time. Temporal coherence refers to the correlation of the wave at different times, while spatial
coherence refers to the correlation at different points in space. Coherent sources are essential for
producing clear interference patterns, as seen in experiments like Young's double-slit experiment.

(Insert relevant diagram here)


Interference in Thin Films by Reflection

When light reflects off the two surfaces of a thin film, the two reflected waves interfere with each
other. Depending on the phase difference between these waves, they can interfere constructively or
destructively, leading to the colorful patterns seen in soap bubbles and oil films.

(Insert relevant diagram here)


Newton's Rings

Newton's rings are a series of concentric, alternating bright and dark rings observed when a
plano-convex lens is placed on a flat glass surface and illuminated with monochromatic light. The
rings result from interference between light waves reflected from the top and bottom surfaces of the
thin air film between the lens and the flat surface.

(Insert relevant diagram here)


Fresnel and Fraunhofer Diffraction

Diffraction refers to the bending of waves around obstacles and openings. Fresnel diffraction occurs
when either the source or the screen or both are at finite distances from the diffracting aperture.
Fraunhofer diffraction occurs when both the source and the screen are at infinite distances from the
aperture, or lenses are used to simulate this condition.

(Insert relevant diagram here)


Fraunhofer Diffraction Due to Single Slit

In Fraunhofer diffraction by a single slit, parallel light waves pass through a narrow slit and interfere
with each other, creating a diffraction pattern of a central bright fringe flanked by alternating dark
and bright fringes. The intensity distribution depends on the slit width and the wavelength of the
light.

(Insert relevant diagram here)


Plane Diffraction Grating

A plane diffraction grating consists of a large number of equally spaced parallel slits. When
monochromatic light is incident on it, the light is diffracted into several beams traveling in different
directions. The angular positions of these beams depend on the wavelength of the light and the
spacing of the grating.

(Insert relevant diagram here)


Resolving Power of Grating

The resolving power of a diffraction grating is its ability to separate two closely spaced spectral lines.
It is given by R = nN, where n is the order of the diffraction and N is the total number of slits
illuminated. Higher resolving power allows for finer distinction between wavelengths.

(Insert relevant diagram here)


Polarization of Light Waves

Polarization refers to the orientation of the oscillations of a light wave perpendicular to its direction of
propagation. Unpolarized light consists of waves vibrating in all planes perpendicular to the direction
of travel, while polarized light vibrates in a single plane.

(Insert relevant diagram here)


Plane of Vibration and Plane of Polarization

The plane of vibration is the plane containing the direction of propagation and the electric vector of
the light wave. The plane perpendicular to this is called the plane of polarization. Understanding
these planes helps describe the orientation of polarized light.

(Insert relevant diagram here)


Double Refraction

Double refraction occurs when a light wave entering an anisotropic medium, such as calcite or
quartz, splits into two rays: the ordinary ray (o-ray) and the extraordinary ray (e-ray). These rays
travel at different speeds and refract at different angles, leading to two images of a single object.

(Insert relevant diagram here)


Nicol's Prism

A Nicol's prism is an optical device made from calcite crystal, used to produce and analyze polarized
light. It works on the principle of double refraction and total internal reflection, allowing only the
extraordinary ray to emerge, resulting in plane-polarized light.

(Insert relevant diagram here)


Applications of Polarization

Polarization has many applications in science and technology. It is used in polarized sunglasses to
reduce glare, in photography to manage reflections, in liquid crystal displays (LCDs), in stress
analysis of transparent materials, and in optical communication systems for signal clarity.

(Insert relevant diagram here)

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