Experiment 8

SINGLE SLIT DIFFRACTION

Aim: To study diffraction at a single slit and verify Heisenberg's uncertainty principle
Photo detector, Photo-detector measurement unit,
Apparatus: Diode Laser, Laser power supply,
lens, micrometer screw.
optical bench. slits, slit holder, magnifying

Experimental Setup and Ray Diagram:

52
 Micrometer screw
Photo-detector
measurement unit

Laser power supply

Diode laser Photo-detecto

Optical bench

Diffracting object holder

Figure9

Slit N
S

-b-
Figure10

Principle: When a
parallel and monochromatic passes through-
Single slit
of width d, a diffraction light beam of wavelengtn P
pattern with a principal maximum and
several secondars

63
inaxima appears on the screen. By knowing these secondary maxima. one can determine the
Width of given slit. Additionally. also
one can verily the Heisenberg's uncerlainty principle,

Formulae:
1. a, = Sn 1.4302 )
d
2. Sin 2.459

3. a, Sm 34712
d

4. ano= sn
|Where, n=1,2, 3..
5. =0.047/,
6. 1, =0.017/,
7. 1, =0.083/,

Procedure:

. Align the setup as shown in the schematic diagram Keep 10-12cm distance
between the laser and slit holder.
2. Switch on the laser power supply. Adjust the laser beam so that it falls maximum
on the pin hole of the photo detector.
3. Mount the slit on to the holder. A diffraction pattenm will be observed on the photo
detector.
4. Take the observations for principal and first, second, third secondary manima &
first secondary minima from both the sides of central maxima using micrometer

Screw
5. Calculate the slit width, d lor the given slits and verify the Heisenberg's
uncertainty principle.

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 Observation Table:

Least Count of Micrometer Screw Gauge= 0.001 cm

Table for measuring the photo-current and distance at the principal maxima:

Slit Used MSR CSR TOTAL(Yo) CURRENT(IO)

mm) (mm) mA)
200 12: 2 120
26 6
150 1 12 C
100
Fl66 33

Table for measuring the photo-currents and distance at various positions using slit of
200micron:

Left hand side readings Right hand side readings

Position MSR CSR TOTAL(YL) | L MSR CSR | TOTAL(YR) | Ia
(mm) mm) (MA) (mnm) (mm) (HA)
1s Maxima CLA)

20d Maxima
|16:3 33 G43 R2 3
30 ut 204r 32-1 24 42
Maxima 3 39-334.2
1st Minima 3
r-ra2
a2 12 20 14O
140
223:92 r 1 92 8-00 184
b 10 mm

Y'=YL-Yol y"-YR-Yo Y
Y= T Sin(a)=tan(a)
Position (mm) (mm)
2 d
(mm)

65
 (mm)
s Maximna
2nd Maxima
3:99 1 Y .rR& u3x10 0 201
8y Y2 911
3rd Maxima 20P
12-93 I 24 12-07 (6OJ o 192
1st Minima O 2-88 Y1o I1A10

Table for Heisenberg's Uncertainty principle:

Micrometer readings Micrometer readings
corresponding to 1s corresponding to 1st
Slit Minima(LH.S)
Width
Minima(RH.S)
MSR CSR T0TAL(YL) | MSR CSR TOTAL(YR)
(mm) (mm) (mm) mm) (mm)
D-00 16 33 &63
1roi 37it o 1012
1 Oo 16 12 1612 103 0

Y'=Y-Yol y=|YR-Yo Y10 +Y sin tan

(mm) (mm) 2

(mm)

3 1 :022
269

-r :0r I0u

Calculations:

'

d-430a= 1u 30x6TO XI0yto

Sm 86 16

-' 20.8x10
K 0. 201mm
 8Sx1o
0-203MM.
c2 03.6)x1o-y. d

3]3 sm(3.u1A)
33.414 3.u1ax6S = lo9x|0
Sim3 1160Y 1o-3

da192 .q1X1o15d3=o 112nm

> 0 . 0 1u2A
0 01910
O D)9y 06
S 1 =

D332A
-0-083Ja o-082 04 0
3

Precautions:
1. Never look directly into laser beam or its reflection, even through dark glasses.
2. Do not disturb or adjust the uprights holding the laser.
3. Move the micrometer screw only in one direction to avoid error due to backlash.

67
Conclusion:
. The slit width of the given slit is O 2 6 micron.
2. We have verified the Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle for three different slits and their
values are found to be as follows:
a) For 200 micron, it is
b) For 150micron, it is
c) For 100micron, it is

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