Assignment No.

01
0001-BS-PHY-2019 BS Physics 3rd Semester
Question No. 01
Thin film
A thin film is a layer of material ranging from fractions of a nanometer (monolayer) to
several micrometers in thickness on a supporting material.
Example
1. Thin metal coating on back side of household mirror.
2. Layer of oil on the surface of water.

Interference in thin film

A film of thickness from 0.5 to 10  m is a transparent medium of
glass, mica, air enclosed between glass, soap film, etc. When
the light is made incident on this thin film partial reflection and
partial refraction occur from the top surface of the film. The
refracted beam travels in the medium and again suffers partial
reflection and partial refraction at the bottom surface of the
film. In this way several reflected and refracted rays are
produces by a single incident ray. As they move are
superimposed on each other and produces interference pattern.

Mathematically
Suppose a thin film having refractive index
"n" and thickness "t". Suppose an incident ray
´ is incident at point "B" above the upper
AB
surface of the film. We draw a normal at "B".
As soon as the ray strikes the upper surface of
the film some of its part reflects and some part
refracts into the film. Let angle of incidence is
"i" and that of refraction is "r" also i=r
We have to find the path difference between
´ and DR
BQ ´ reflected rays in order to find the

conditions for constructive and destructive

interference in thin film. For this purpose we
draw a normal ( DN ´ ) from point "D" to ray "
´ "
BQ
´ + CD
Path difference=( BC ´ ) (in film) - BN
´ (in air)

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 Assignment No. 01
Path difference=¿) refractive index of the medium - BN
´ (1) ( For air, refractive index=1)

Path differenc=¿ )n - BN
´

Path differenc=¿ )n - BN
´ (∵ BC=
´ CD
´ ¿

Path differenc=¿ )n - BN
´ … (i)

In right triangle ΔBCM

Base ḾC t
cos r = = =
Hypo . BC
´ BC
´

t
BC=
´ …(ii)
cos r
In right triangle ΔBND
´
Perp . BN
sin i= =
Hypo. BD´

´ = BD
BN ´ sin i …(iii)

´ BM
BD= ´ + MD
´

´ BM
BD= ´ + BM
´ (∵ MD=
´ ´ )
BM

´
BD=2 ´ …(iv )
BM

Using equation (iv) in equation (iii), we get

´ =2 BM
BN ´ sini …(v)

In right triangle ΔBCM

´
Pep. BM ´
BM
tanr = = =
Base MC
´ t
´ =t tanr …(vi)
BM

Using Snell’s law, we have

sin i
n=
sinr

sin i=n sin r …(vii)

Substituting equation (vi) & equation (vii) in equation (v)

´ =2 t ¿
BN

Using equation (ii) & (viii) in equation (i)

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 Assignment No. 01
Path difference=¿)n - 2 t ¿

sin r sin r
Path difference=¿)n – 2 t ( cos )r ( nsin r )( ∵ tan r= cos r
)

2 nt
Path difference=
cos r –[(1- ]
¿¿

2 nt
Path difference= (cos r)2
cos r –
¿

Path difference=2 nt cos r …( ix)

This is a geometric path difference. However, there is a phase change of π, as ray R1 is reflected from a
λ
denser medium. Hence we need to add ± to path difference,
2
λ
Path difference=2 nt cos r−
2
Condition for constructive interference in thin film

Path difference=nλ

λ
2 nt cos r − =nλ
2
λ
2 nt cos r =nλ+
2
λ
2 nt cos r =(2 n+1)
2 Where n=0,1,2,3, …
Condition for destructive interference in thin film
λ
Path difference=(2n+ 1)
2
λ λ
2 nt cos r − =( 2n+1)
2 2
λ λ
2 nt cos r =( 2 n+1 ) +
2 2
λ λ λ
2 nt cos r =2 n + +
2 2 2

2 nt cos r =nλ+ λ

2 nt cos r =λ( n+1)

2 nt cos r =nλ Where n=0,1,2,3, …

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