Consider an extended source of light (AB) of width w placed at a distance x away

from the two slits S1 and S2. Now consider a point S on the extended source. If only
point S is assumed to be illuminate the slits S 1 and S2, then an interference pattern
of good visibility is obtained on the screen. However, every point on the real
extended source AB acts as a source of disturbance. It means that the slits S 1 and S2
are also illuminated by other points on the extended source. This results in the
displacement of fringes in the interference pattern produced on the screen relative
to the fringes of the interference pattern produced by point source S. Thus, there
occurs a spread in fringes due to the light from the extended source. Hence, the
visibility of the interference pattern on the screen is reduced considerably.
Now consider two extreme points A and B on the extended source. These two
points act as two independent sources of light.
Let AS1 = AS2 and point O on the screen is such that S 1O = S2O. The pointy source
A on the extended source produces maxima around O.
However, the intensity at O due to the point source B depends upon the path
difference between BS1 and BS2. The path difference between BS1 and BS2 = ( BS2
BS1 ) = NS2
( 1 )
If the path difference NS2 =
S1O and S2O is

, then the phase difference between the waves

It means, these waves superimpose out of phase at O and hence O is the seat of
minima of the interference pattern produced by the point source B. Hence, no
interference pattern is observed .

NS1S2 sin = NS2/d , where d is the distance between S 1 and

From
S2
Since

is very small , so

sin =

= NS2/d or NS2 =

Hence eq. (1) becomes

BS2 BS1 =

= w/x1 = d / 2 x2

( 2 )

X 1 = w/

and x2 = d/2

X = x 1 + x2 = w/

+ d/2

= 1/

(w + d/2)

= 1/x (w + d/2)

Hence eq. (2) becomes

d ( w +d /2 )
x

BS2 BS1 =

= wd/x + d2/ 2x

Since d is very small , so neglecting the very small term d 2 , we get

wd
x

BS2 BS1 =

Since for no interference pattern

BS2 BS1 =

wd
x

or w=

x
2d

.( 3 )

Thus, for an extended source of size w , interference pattern is not observed if d >

x
w

.. ( 4 )

Let be the angle subtended by the extended source AB at the mid point of C of
S1S2 , then
=

w
x

using eq (4) in (3) , we get

.d>

(5)

Thus, d =

is the maximum lateral distance between the slits S1 and S2 so that

the beam of light from an extended source may have some degree of spatial
coherence. This lateral distance is known as lateral or transverse coherence width
and written as
Di =