Superposition of waves

Consider the superposition of two sinusoidal waves at a particular point. Let the displacements
produced by these waves are given as
Resultant displacement according to superposition principle

Conclusion: Since amplitudes are constant therefore intensity varies with phase
difference.
Superposition of waves

Maximum
Intensity Minimum
Intensity
Superposition of waves
Now, reconsider the equation again
Intensity Distribution and Law of Conservation
of Energy
Average Energy, Iav

Iav = I1 + I2
Thus energy distribution in the interference
follows the law of conservation of energy.
Problems

1. Two coherent sources whose Intensity ratio is 100:1 produce

interference fringes. Deduce the ratio of maximum and minimum
intensity in fringe system. Imax/Imin=121/81

2. Two coherent sources of Intensity ratio α interfere. Prove that

Production of Coherent Sources
In practice it is not possible to get independent two sources which are coherent.
However, two virtual sources, formed from one single source, can act as
coherent sources. There are two ways to get two coherent sources from one
Single source
1. By Division of Wave front: Two wavefronts are produced from a single wave

Examples: Young’s double slit experiment,

Fresnel Biprism, Lloyd’s Mirror, Fresnel Mirror

2. By Division of Amplitude: Two waves are formed from a single source due to
reflection and refraction. One of these source is real and other is virtual source.
point
Examples: Newton’s Ring, source
Michelson Interferometer, glass
Thin film interference plate
two virtual
images of
point source
Interference Fringes : Division of wave front
Interference Fringes : Division of wave front

For Intensity to be maximum at Point P

S2P – S1P = nλ

If d<< D, then S2P  S1P  D, we will get

yn d
 n Bright Fringe
D
Distance between any two
consecutive bright fringes

Fringe width
Interference Fringes : Division of wave front
Similarly for dark fringes,

So we get, for dark and bright fringes Thus fringe width

of dark and
bright fringes are
Dark Fringe same.
Separation between dark
and bright fringes

Visibility of the fringes (V)

Two beams of equal irradiance (I0): case study YDSE
Intensity is given by

I  4 I 0 cos 2

But path difference for the case of YDSE the phase difference is given by
2 yd
 yd 
D  D
Hence, the maximum intensity

yd
I  4 I 0 cos 2

D
Problem Set 1
Q.1. Two straight narrow slits at 3 mm apart are illuminated by a
mono chromatic light (590 nm) and the interference fringes are
viewed on screen at 60 cm away from slits. Find fringe width.
Comment on the shape of the fringes.

Q.2. Sodium light (589 nm) falls on double slit exp, having d=2mm,
and D= 4 cm. Locate 10th bright fringe on screen.

Q.3. A light source emits two wavelength (430 & 510 nm). Find the
separation b/w 3rd bright fringe for both wavelength?

Q.4. Green light (510 nm) falling on double slit exp. If overall
separation of 10 fringes on screen (200 cm away from slits) is 2 cm,
what is the separation of slits?
In Double slit experiment: Insert a thin transparent glass
sheet of thickness t and refractive index μ in the path of one
beam.

Path difference
  S2 P  S1P  (  1)t
yn d
Time required for the   (   1)t
light to reach from S2 D
to the point P is
D
position of nth bright fringe yn  [n  (   1)t ]
d
YDSE with White Light
The figure shows a photograph that illustrates the kind of interference
fringes that can result when white light is used in Young’s experiment.
Why does Young’s experiment separate white light into its constituent
colors? In any group of colored fringes, such as the two singled out,
why is red farther out from the central fringe than green is? Why is the
central fringe white?
Fresnel Biprism: (Augustin-Jean Fresnel)
It consists of two thin acute angled prisms joined at the bases. It is constructed
as a single prism of obtuse angle of 1790.The acute angle α on both side is
about 30´. A portion of the incident light is refracted downward and a portion
upward.

The fringe width

  D d
Position of bright fringes from O

nD
yn 
d
d O Position of dark fringes from O

(2n  1)D
a yn 
D
2d
where n = 0,1,2,3….
 D > 4f
Fringes of
unequal width

Fringes of
equal width

Fringes of
unequal width

 
Angular fringe width   
D d
Distance Between Virtual Sources: Displacement method
D>4f
I1 v1

O u1
and

I 2 v2

O u2
u2  v1
But v2  u1

O  I1I 2
Distance Between Virtual Sources: Displacement method

d  d1d 2

O
Now the fringe width is given by

D

d1d 2
and wavelength

O
 d1d 2

D
Eyepiece is moved horizontally to determine the
fringe width. Suppose 20 bright fringes cross the
field of view, when the eyepiece moves through a   L 20
distance L, then
Distance Between Virtual Sources: Deviation method
For small angles   (  1) (1)

δ is angle of deviation
From right angle triangle S1EO’ and equation (1)
O’
d 2

z1
Hence, d  2 (  1) z1

If base angles are different, then

d  d1  d 2  (  1)(1   2 ) z1
D D
 
d1  d 2 (   1)(1   2 ) z1
Fringes with White Light

When white light is used the center fringe at O is white since all
waves will constructively interfere here while the fringes on the
both side of O are colored because the fringe width (β) depends
on wavelength of light.
ng D
For green light y g 
2(  g  1)z1

nr D
For red light yr  2(   1)z
r 1

White light is used to determine shift of fringe pattern.

We have to use white light to determine the thickness of the material
Fringe Displacement

Determine condition of net path difference

  (1  1)t1  (2  1)t2

Case 1:
If μ1= μ2=μ and t1>t2, Δ is positive (upward shift)
or t2>t1, Δ is negative (downward shift)

Case 2:
If t1 =t2 = t and μ1 >μ2, Δ is positive (upward shift)
or μ2>μ1 , Δ is negative (downward shift)
Lloyd’s Mirror

Real source

Mirror
Virtual source

Reflected beam undergoes a sudden phase change of  or path difference of /2

on reflection. Therefore the central fringe will be dark.

In Lloyd’s single mirror interference experiment, the slit source is at a distance 2 mm from
the plane of mirror. The screen is kept at a distance of 1.5 m from the source. Calculate the
fringe width for the wavelength 6000 Å of light used.
Discussion
Q1. Effects of increasing the slit width on the Fringe System?
Contrast between dark and bright would start decreasing and eventually fringes will disappear

Q2. What happens if a transparent material, say glass, of thickness t and

refractive index μ is placed in the path of one of the interfering beam ?
yn d
Path difference   (   1)t
D
Application: This technique can be used to
determine thickness of thin transparent This displacement is towards the beam in
sheets the path of which the plate is introduced.

Q3. How to determine shift of fringe pattern? We should use white light. For
monochromatic light central fringe will similar to other bright fringe. For white light central fringe is
white.
Reasoning
1. How can we identify the zeroth order fringe in Fresnel’s bi- prism experiment?

2. If the angle of prism α in biprism arrangement is gradually increased, what will

be the effect on the total number of fringes on the screen?

3. An apparatus of Young’s double slit experiment is dipped in a liquid (μ>1.2).

What will happen to fringe pattern?

4. In Young’s double slit experiment, what effect will be seen on the fringes if
source of light is moved back by 1 mm from its original position?

5. Why the central fringe in Llyod’s single mirror experiment is dark?

6. Can we observe complete darkness at a point in front of two independent

monochromatic light sources?
Problem set 2
1. In a certain region of interference 45th order maximum for the wavelength λ = 5893 Å are
obtained. What will be the order of interference at the same place for (a) λ = 4820 Å, (b) λ
= 7576 Å.
2. The inclined faces of a glass prism of refractive index 1.5 make an angle of 1o with the base
of the prism. The slit is 10 cm from the biprism and is illuminated by light of λ = 5900Å.
Find the fringe width observed at a distance of 1 meter from the biprism.

3. In a biprism experiment with sodium light, bands of width 0.1963 mm are observed at 100
cm from the slit. On introducing a convex lens 30 cm away from the slit, two images of the
slit are seen 0.7 cm apart, at 100 cm distance from the slit. Calculate the wavelength of
sodium light.
4. In Lloyd’s single mirror interference experiment, the slit source is at a distance 2 mm from
the plane of mirror. The screen is kept at a distance of 1.5 m from the source. Calculate the
fringe width for the wavelength 6000 Å of light used.

5. In biprism experiment, the eye-piece is at 120 cm away from source. The distance b/w two
virtual sources was found to be equal to 0.075 cm. Find the wavelength of source, if eye-
piece has to be moved through a distance 1.888 cm for 20 fringes to cross the field of view.