PHY 121

BTF-09-041

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• Diffraction.
• Fresnel’s Assumption.
• Rectilinear Propagation of Light.

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 DISCOVERY
•Discovered by Francesco Maria
Grimaldi (1618-1663).
•Coined the word “diffraction”.
•Latin word “diffiringere” meaning to
break into pieces.
•Normally a deviation from the
rectilinear propagation .
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 1.DIFFRACTION

 Apparent bending of waves around the

edges of obstacles .

 Characteristic property – waves .

 Occurs with all types of waves.

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Diffraction phenomena
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Diffraction pattern of disc
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Diffraction pattern of horizontal slit

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Diffraction pattern circular aperture
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 The Diffraction Grating
Diffraction grating is an arrangement consisting of a large number of
parallel, closely spaced slits.

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 Fraunhoffer
Fraunhoffer &
& Fresnel
Fresnel Diffraction
Diffraction

Far Fraunhoffer pattern

Fresnel pattern

Near
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2.
Q
X


P
M

S C 
O

Y
R

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 To obtain the resultant effect at a point P on
the screen, Fresnel assumed that ;
(1)A wavefront can be divided into a large number
of strips or zones called Fresnel’s zones.
(2)The resultant effect at any point on the screen
depends on combined effect of all the secondary
waves.
(3)Resultant effect at a point also depends on its
distances from the particular zones.
(4)Obliquity with reference to the zone and the
point.
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 Due to the wave front at C, the effect will be
maximum at O and decreases with increasing
obliquity.
It is maximum in a direction radially outwards
from C and it decreases in the opposite direction.

Effect at a point due to the obliquity factor is

proportional to (1+cos θ) where ∆POC=θ.

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Considering the elementary wave front at C;
(1)At the point O,
since θ=0°; and cos
θ=1;
hence the resultant effect at O is maximum.
(2)At a direction tangential to primary wave
front at C i.e., along CQ,
since θ=90°; and cos θ=0;
one half of the
resultant at O.
(3)At a direction along CS , since θ=180°; and
cos θ=-1; resultant is zero. 14
 The property of secondary wave front
eliminates one of the main drawbacks in the
Huygen’s principle.
As secondary wave front spread outs in all
directions from primary wave front as in case of
Huygen’s principle so back wave propagation is
a tedious method of calculation.
But in Fresnel’s assumptions, there is no back
wave propagation and the rear wave amplitude
is zero.

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 3.Rectilinear Propagation of Light
B
X

b P
b+3λ/2
x b+2λ/2
m3 b+λ/2
C
m2

m1
Y o P
D b
m’1

m’2
m’3
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y
 m4

m3

m2

m1 Fresnel’s half
period zones
(or) half period
4 3 2 1 O elements

•Phase difference π
(or)
•Path difference λ/2
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OP=b; OM1=r1; OM2=r2; OM3=r3; etc,..
M1P=b+λ/2; M2P=b+2λ/2; M3P=b+3λ/2; etc,…
Area of 1st half period zone is π(OM1)²=π[M1P² - OP²]
=π[(b+λ/2)²- b²]
=π[bλ+λ²/4]
=πbλ (app.,)…..(1)
(λ is small, λ² is negligible)
Radius of 1st half period zone r1=OM1=√bλ………..(2)
Radius of 2nd half period zone OM2=r2=√2bλ (app.,)…(3)
Area of 2nd half period zone =π[OM2²-OM1²]
=π[2bλ-bλ]=πbλ………(4) 18
 m1 m3
m5 m7
m2=(m1+m3)/2

Resultant amplitude (A)=

m8
m4 m6
m1-m2+m3-m4+..+mn m2

(if n is odd)
A=m1-m2+m3-m4+..-mn
(if n is even)

A=m1/2+[m1/2-m2+m3/2]+[m3/2-m4+m5/2]+….

A=m1/2+mn/2…. If n is odd
A=m1/2+mn-1/2-mn… if n is even

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Number of half zones are infinite then,
n→∞; then amplitudes of mn, mn-1 tends
to be zero;
A=m1/2+mn-1/2-mn…
A=m1/2+0+0+…..
then A=m1/2 ;
I∞m1²/4; (I ∞ A² )
Where, I is intensity at point P due to the
whole wave front ABCD.
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 If the size of the obstacles is
comparable to the wavelength of light , it
is possible to observe the illumination in
the region of geometrical shadow also.
Thus, Rectilinear Propagation of light is
only approximately true.

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PRESENTED BY : A.Vigneshwaran
ROLL NO. : BTF-09-041
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