INTERFERENCE

Superposition of waves:
This principle states that the resultant displacement of a particle of the medium acted upon by
two or more waves simultaneously is the algebraic sum of the displacements of the same
particle due to individual waves, in the absence of the others.

If y1 is the displacement of first wave and y2 is the displacement of the second wave then the
resultant displacement R is the same direction

R=y1+y2

In opposite direction

R=y1-y2

Interference:
Def: When two light waves superimpose, then the resultant amplitude in the region of
superposition is different than the amplitude of individual waves. This modification in the
distribution of amplitude in the region of superposition is called interference.

When the resultant amplitude is the sum of the amplitudes due to two waves, the interference
is known as constructive interference.

When the resultant amplitude is equal to the difference of two amplitudes, the interference is
known as destructive interference.

The phenomenon of interference grouped into two categories:

Division of Wavefront: Under this category, the coherent sources are obtained by
dividing the wavefront, originating from a common source, by employing mirrors,
biprisms or lenses. This class of interference requires essentially a point source or a
narrow slit source.

Ex: The instruments used to obtain interference by division of wavefront are the Fresnel
biprism, Fresnel mirrors, Lloyd's mirror, lasers, etc.

Division of Amplitude: In this method, the amplitude of the incident beam is

divided into two or more parts either by partial reflection or refraction. Thus we have
coherent beams produced by division of amplitude. These beams travel different paths
and are finally brought together to produce interference. The effects resulting from the
superposition of two beams are referred to as two beam interference and those resulting
from superposition of more than two beams are referred to as multiple beam
interference.

Ex: The interference in thin films, Newton's rings, and Michelson's interferometer.
Coherent light:

Def: Coherent sources are those sources of light which emit continuous light waves of same
wavelength, same frequency and are in same phase or have constant phase difference.

 For light waves emitted by two sources of light , to remain coherent the initial phase
difference between waves should remain constant in time. If the phase difference changes
continously or randomly with time then the sources are incoherent.

 Two independent sources of light are not coherent and hence can not produce interference
because light beam is emitted by millions of atoms radiating independently so the phase
difference between waves from such sources fluctuates randomly many times per second.

 The coherent sources can be obtained either by the source and obtaining its virtual image
or by obtaining two virtual images of the same source. This is because any change of phase in
real source will cause a simultaneous and equal change in its image.