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Phys102 Lecture 26, 27, 28
Diffraction of Light
Key Points
• Diffraction by a Single Slit
• Diffraction in the Double-Slit Experiment
• Limits of Resolution
• Diffraction Grating and Spectroscopy
• Polarization
References
24-5,6,7,10; 25-7,8,9.
Different points along a slit create wavelets
that interfere with each other.
Diffraction by a Single Slit
The minima of the single-slit
diffraction pattern occur when
Diffraction by a Single Slit
But when m=0,
it’s the central
maximum.
Diffraction by a Single Slit
Example: Single-slit diffraction
maximum.
Light of wavelength 750 nm
passes through a slit 1.0 x 10-3 mm
wide. How wide is the central
maximum (a) in degrees, and (b) in
centimeters, on a screen 20 cm
away? θ
θ
m..tan.x
.
.
.
sin
D
sin
sinD
2270648200
648
1001
1057
:minimumFirst
6
7
11



















 


m.x
.
45402
2972
:maximumcentralofWidth


Intensity in Single-Slit Diffraction Pattern
Light passing through a
single slit can be divided into
a series of narrower strips;
each contributes the same
amplitude to the total
intensity on the screen, but
the phases differ due to the
differing path lengths:
Path difference between the two edges:
Intensity in Single-Slit Diffraction
Pattern
Finally, we have the intensity as a function of angle:
.
2
0






























sinD
sinD
sin
II
Condition for minima:
Example: Intensity at secondary maxima.
Estimate the intensities of the first two secondary maxima to
either side of the central maximum.
[Solution] The secondary maxima occur
approximately halfway between the minima:
maxima)(secondary
2
1
 





 msinD
0
2
0
2
0 0450
2
3
2
3
I.
sin
I
sinD
sinD
sin
II 
























































For the first secondary maximum:
2
3
 sinD
For the second secondary maximum: 2)(m
2
5
 sinD
0
2
0
2
0 0160
2
5
2
5
I.
sin
I
sinD
sinD
sin
II 
























































Diffraction in the Double-Slit Experiment
The double-slit experiment also exhibits diffraction
effects, as the slits have a finite width.
Single slit diffraction with
slit width D.
Double slit interference with
extremely small slit width.
Double slit interference with
finite slit width D.
The diffraction factor appears as an “envelope” modifying the
more rapidly varying interference factor.
Example: Diffraction plus interference.
Show why the central diffraction peak shown, plotted for the case
where d = 6D = 60λ, contains 11 interference fringes.
The first minimum for the single slit diffraction with slit width D:
.sinD,
D
sin 

  since
The 6th maximum for double-slit interference with slit spacing d:
.sind,
Dd
sin 

 6since
6

The two angle are the same. Therefore, the central diffraction peak
contains 11 interference fringes (5+1+5=11).
Resolution is the distance at which a lens can
barely distinguish two separate objects.
Resolution is limited by aberrations and by
diffraction. Aberrations can be minimized, but
diffraction is unavoidable; it is due to the size
of the lens compared to the wavelength of the
light.
Limits of Resolution; Circular Apertures
When a lens forms
the image of a point
object, the image in
fact is diffraction
pattern. For a
circular aperture of
diameter D, the
central maximum has
an angular width:
Limits of Resolution;
Circular Apertures
(rad)
221
D
. 
 
θ
The Rayleigh criterion states that two images
are just resolvable when the center of one peak
is over the first minimum of the other.
Limits of Resolution; Circular
Apertures
Example: Hubble Space Telescope.
The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a reflecting telescope that
was placed in orbit above the Earth’s atmosphere, so its
resolution would not be limited by turbulence in the atmosphere.
Its objective diameter is 2.4 m. For visible light, say λ = 550 nm,
estimate the improvement in resolution the Hubble offers over
Earth-bound telescopes, which are limited in resolution by
movement of the Earth’s atmosphere to about half an arc
second. (Each degree is divided into 60 minutes each containing
60 seconds, so 1° = 3600 arc seconds.)
sec)(arc10775(rad)102.8
42
10505221221 27-
7




 .
.
..
D
. 

Almost 10 times better.
Example: Eye resolution.
You are in an airplane at an altitude of 10,000 m. If you look down at
the ground, estimate the minimum separation s between objects
that you could distinguish. Could you count cars in a parking lot?
Consider only diffraction, and assume your pupil is about 3.0 mm in
diameter and λ = 550 nm.
Eye’s resolution: (rad)102.24
1003
10505221221 4
3
7







.
..
D
. 

Distinguishable separation s:
m2.24102.2410000 4
 
ls
sθ
l
That’s about the size of a car.
Resolution of Microscopes; the λ Limit
For microscopes, assuming the object is at the focal
point, the resolving power is given by
(rad)
221
D
. 
 
Typically, the focal length of a
microscope lens is half its diameter,
which shows that it is not possible to
resolve details smaller than the
wavelength being used:
Resolution Microscopes; the λ Limit
The human eye can resolve objects that are about 1
cm apart at a distance of 20 m, or 0.1 mm apart at the
near point.
This limits the useful magnification of a light
microscope to about 500x–1000x.
Resolution of the Human Eye and
Useful Magnification
mm.m.
m
1010251
2
500
102.5250nm
2
4
7






A diffraction grating consists of a large number (N) of equally
spaced narrow slits or lines. A transmission grating has slits, while a
reflection grating has lines that reflect light.
The more lines or slits there are,
the narrower the peaks. I0  N2.
Principal maxima (θ can be large):
Diffraction Grating
N=2
N=6
Example: Diffraction grating: lines.
Determine the angular positions of the first- and second-order
maxima for light of wavelength 400 nm and 700 nm incident on a
grating containing 10,000 lines/cm.
m.cmd 64
1001101
10000
1 

The first-order maximum:



 

62340
1001
1004
4006
7
400 .,.
.
.
d
sin 





 

44470
1001
1004
7006
7
700 .,.
.
.
d
sin 


The second-order maximum:



 

15380
1001
100422
4006
7
400 .,.
.
.
d
sin 


maximum.order-secondNo41
1001
100722
6
7
700 ,.
.
.
d
sin 


 



A spectrometer makes accurate measurements of
wavelengths using a diffraction grating or prism.
The Spectrometer and Spectroscopy
The wavelength can be determined to high accuracy
by measuring the angle at which the light is diffracted:
The Spectrometer and Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Atoms and molecules can be identified
when they are in a thin gas through their
characteristic emission lines.
Light is polarized when
its electric fields
oscillate in a single
plane, rather than in any
direction perpendicular
to the direction of
propagation.
Polarization
Polarized light will not
be transmitted through
a polarized film whose
axis is perpendicular
to the polarization
direction.
Polarization
When light passes through a polarizer, only the
component parallel to the polarization axis is
transmitted. If the incoming light is plane-polarized, the
outgoing intensity is:
Polarization
This means that if initially unpolarized light
passes through crossed polarizers, no light
will get through the second one.
Example: Two Polaroids at 60°.
Unpolarized light passes through two Polaroids; the axis of one is
vertical and that of the other is at 60° to the vertical. Describe the
orientation and intensity of the transmitted light.
I0 I1 I2
Conceptual Example:
Three Polaroids.
When unpolarized
light falls on two
crossed Polaroids
(axes at 90°), no light
passes through.
What happens if a
third Polaroid, with
axis at 45° to each of
the other two, is placed
between
them?
Light is also partially
polarized after reflecting from
a nonmetallic surface. At a
special angle, called the
polarizing angle or Brewster’s
angle, the polarization is
100%:
The reflected light is polarized
perpendicular to plane of
incidence.
The angle between the
reflected light and the
refracted light is 90°.
.
Example: Polarizing angle.
(a) At what incident angle is sunlight reflected from a
lake plane-polarized? (b) What is the refraction angle?

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DIFFRACTION OF LIGHT

  • 1. Phys102 Lecture 26, 27, 28 Diffraction of Light Key Points • Diffraction by a Single Slit • Diffraction in the Double-Slit Experiment • Limits of Resolution • Diffraction Grating and Spectroscopy • Polarization References 24-5,6,7,10; 25-7,8,9.
  • 2. Different points along a slit create wavelets that interfere with each other. Diffraction by a Single Slit
  • 3. The minima of the single-slit diffraction pattern occur when Diffraction by a Single Slit But when m=0, it’s the central maximum.
  • 4. Diffraction by a Single Slit Example: Single-slit diffraction maximum. Light of wavelength 750 nm passes through a slit 1.0 x 10-3 mm wide. How wide is the central maximum (a) in degrees, and (b) in centimeters, on a screen 20 cm away? θ θ m..tan.x . . . sin D sin sinD 2270648200 648 1001 1057 :minimumFirst 6 7 11                        m.x . 45402 2972 :maximumcentralofWidth  
  • 5. Intensity in Single-Slit Diffraction Pattern Light passing through a single slit can be divided into a series of narrower strips; each contributes the same amplitude to the total intensity on the screen, but the phases differ due to the differing path lengths: Path difference between the two edges:
  • 6. Intensity in Single-Slit Diffraction Pattern Finally, we have the intensity as a function of angle: . 2 0                               sinD sinD sin II Condition for minima:
  • 7. Example: Intensity at secondary maxima. Estimate the intensities of the first two secondary maxima to either side of the central maximum. [Solution] The secondary maxima occur approximately halfway between the minima: maxima)(secondary 2 1         msinD 0 2 0 2 0 0450 2 3 2 3 I. sin I sinD sinD sin II                                                          For the first secondary maximum: 2 3  sinD For the second secondary maximum: 2)(m 2 5  sinD 0 2 0 2 0 0160 2 5 2 5 I. sin I sinD sinD sin II                                                         
  • 8. Diffraction in the Double-Slit Experiment The double-slit experiment also exhibits diffraction effects, as the slits have a finite width. Single slit diffraction with slit width D. Double slit interference with extremely small slit width. Double slit interference with finite slit width D. The diffraction factor appears as an “envelope” modifying the more rapidly varying interference factor.
  • 9. Example: Diffraction plus interference. Show why the central diffraction peak shown, plotted for the case where d = 6D = 60λ, contains 11 interference fringes. The first minimum for the single slit diffraction with slit width D: .sinD, D sin     since The 6th maximum for double-slit interference with slit spacing d: .sind, Dd sin    6since 6  The two angle are the same. Therefore, the central diffraction peak contains 11 interference fringes (5+1+5=11).
  • 10. Resolution is the distance at which a lens can barely distinguish two separate objects. Resolution is limited by aberrations and by diffraction. Aberrations can be minimized, but diffraction is unavoidable; it is due to the size of the lens compared to the wavelength of the light. Limits of Resolution; Circular Apertures
  • 11. When a lens forms the image of a point object, the image in fact is diffraction pattern. For a circular aperture of diameter D, the central maximum has an angular width: Limits of Resolution; Circular Apertures (rad) 221 D .    θ
  • 12. The Rayleigh criterion states that two images are just resolvable when the center of one peak is over the first minimum of the other. Limits of Resolution; Circular Apertures
  • 13. Example: Hubble Space Telescope. The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a reflecting telescope that was placed in orbit above the Earth’s atmosphere, so its resolution would not be limited by turbulence in the atmosphere. Its objective diameter is 2.4 m. For visible light, say λ = 550 nm, estimate the improvement in resolution the Hubble offers over Earth-bound telescopes, which are limited in resolution by movement of the Earth’s atmosphere to about half an arc second. (Each degree is divided into 60 minutes each containing 60 seconds, so 1° = 3600 arc seconds.) sec)(arc10775(rad)102.8 42 10505221221 27- 7      . . .. D .   Almost 10 times better.
  • 14. Example: Eye resolution. You are in an airplane at an altitude of 10,000 m. If you look down at the ground, estimate the minimum separation s between objects that you could distinguish. Could you count cars in a parking lot? Consider only diffraction, and assume your pupil is about 3.0 mm in diameter and λ = 550 nm. Eye’s resolution: (rad)102.24 1003 10505221221 4 3 7        . .. D .   Distinguishable separation s: m2.24102.2410000 4   ls sθ l That’s about the size of a car.
  • 15. Resolution of Microscopes; the λ Limit For microscopes, assuming the object is at the focal point, the resolving power is given by (rad) 221 D .   
  • 16. Typically, the focal length of a microscope lens is half its diameter, which shows that it is not possible to resolve details smaller than the wavelength being used: Resolution Microscopes; the λ Limit
  • 17. The human eye can resolve objects that are about 1 cm apart at a distance of 20 m, or 0.1 mm apart at the near point. This limits the useful magnification of a light microscope to about 500x–1000x. Resolution of the Human Eye and Useful Magnification mm.m. m 1010251 2 500 102.5250nm 2 4 7      
  • 18. A diffraction grating consists of a large number (N) of equally spaced narrow slits or lines. A transmission grating has slits, while a reflection grating has lines that reflect light. The more lines or slits there are, the narrower the peaks. I0  N2. Principal maxima (θ can be large): Diffraction Grating N=2 N=6
  • 19. Example: Diffraction grating: lines. Determine the angular positions of the first- and second-order maxima for light of wavelength 400 nm and 700 nm incident on a grating containing 10,000 lines/cm. m.cmd 64 1001101 10000 1   The first-order maximum:       62340 1001 1004 4006 7 400 .,. . . d sin          44470 1001 1004 7006 7 700 .,. . . d sin    The second-order maximum:       15380 1001 100422 4006 7 400 .,. . . d sin    maximum.order-secondNo41 1001 100722 6 7 700 ,. . . d sin        
  • 20. A spectrometer makes accurate measurements of wavelengths using a diffraction grating or prism. The Spectrometer and Spectroscopy
  • 21. The wavelength can be determined to high accuracy by measuring the angle at which the light is diffracted: The Spectrometer and Spectroscopy
  • 22. Spectroscopy Atoms and molecules can be identified when they are in a thin gas through their characteristic emission lines.
  • 23. Light is polarized when its electric fields oscillate in a single plane, rather than in any direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Polarization
  • 24. Polarized light will not be transmitted through a polarized film whose axis is perpendicular to the polarization direction. Polarization
  • 25. When light passes through a polarizer, only the component parallel to the polarization axis is transmitted. If the incoming light is plane-polarized, the outgoing intensity is: Polarization
  • 26. This means that if initially unpolarized light passes through crossed polarizers, no light will get through the second one.
  • 27. Example: Two Polaroids at 60°. Unpolarized light passes through two Polaroids; the axis of one is vertical and that of the other is at 60° to the vertical. Describe the orientation and intensity of the transmitted light. I0 I1 I2
  • 28. Conceptual Example: Three Polaroids. When unpolarized light falls on two crossed Polaroids (axes at 90°), no light passes through. What happens if a third Polaroid, with axis at 45° to each of the other two, is placed between them?
  • 29. Light is also partially polarized after reflecting from a nonmetallic surface. At a special angle, called the polarizing angle or Brewster’s angle, the polarization is 100%: The reflected light is polarized perpendicular to plane of incidence. The angle between the reflected light and the refracted light is 90°. .
  • 30. Example: Polarizing angle. (a) At what incident angle is sunlight reflected from a lake plane-polarized? (b) What is the refraction angle?