2.

8 Fraunhofer diffraction at a double slit

Two rectangular slits parallel to one another and perpendicular to the plane of the paper, width of
each slit is say 𝑎 and width of the opaque portion is 𝑏, figure 2.3. Light rays are collected by the
converging lens L and interference
patterns are seen in the screen FT. Let a
plane wave front be incident on the
surface XY. All the secondary waves
travelling in the direction parallel to OP
come to focus at P. Hence P is the
position for central bright maximum.

The diffraction patterns in double

slits are of two types one is due to
interference phenomena and another is
due to the diffraction phenomena
which are discussed separately as
follows:

(i) Interference maxima and

minima
Consider secondary waves
travelling in a direction Figure2.3
inclined at an angle 𝜃 with
the initial direction. Interference patterns are produced due to the superposition of waves
emanating from the corresponding points of the two slits (like A and C in the figure 2.3).
𝐸𝐶 𝐸𝐶
In the ∆ 𝐴𝐸𝐶, sin 𝜃 = 𝐴𝐶 = 𝑎+𝑏

⇨ 𝐸𝐶 = (𝑎 + 𝑏) sin 𝜃
If this path difference is equal to the integer multiples of λ, it corresponds to the maximum intensity
(𝑎 + 𝑏) sin 𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆 ….. (2.81)

where 𝑛 = 1, 2, 3 etc and 𝜃𝑛 = 𝜃1 , 𝜃2 , 𝜃2 , … are the directions of maxima.

𝜆
Similarly, if the path difference is equal to the odd multiples of 2, minima are produced. Thus
𝜆
(𝑎 + 𝑏) sin 𝜃′𝑛 = (2𝑛 + 1) …… (2.82)
2

where 𝑛 = 1,2,3, .. and 𝜃′𝑛 = 𝜃1′ , 𝜃2′ , 𝜃3′ , … gives the direction of minima produced.

From equation (2.81) and (2.82) we can see that the angular separations between any two consecutive
𝜆
maxima (or minima) is equal to 𝑎+𝑏.

Diffraction maxima and Minima

Diffraction maxima and minima are produced due to the superposition of secondary waves from the two
slits individually. Let us consider the secondary waves travelling in a direction inclined at an angle 𝜙
with the initial direction of the incident light.

If the path difference BM of the two waves emanating from the extremities of a slit(i.e., points A and
B) is equal to λ (wavelength of light used), then 𝜙 will give the direction of the minimum. Considering
the wave front AB to be made up of the two halves, the path difference between the corresponding
𝜆
points of the upper and lower halves like the points A and mid point of AB is equal to . Hence the two
2
secondary waves from these points are interfere destructively giving minimum at the point 𝑃 ′. In
general, the condition for minima is

𝑎 sin 𝜙𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆 , where 𝑛 = 1,2,3, .. 𝜙1 , 𝜙2 , 𝜙3 , etc, corresponding to the directions of diffraction

minima.

Similarly, the condition for diffraction maxima is

(2𝑛+1)𝜆
𝑎 sin 𝜙𝑛 =
2

2.9 Plane diffraction grating

A diffraction grating is an extremely useful device which consists of a very large number of narrow slits
side by side. The slits are separated by opaque spaces. When a wave front is incident on a grating
surface, light is transmitted through the slits and obstructed by the opaque portions. Such a grating is
called a transmission grating. The secondary waves from the positions of the slits interfere with one
another giving interference patterns as well as diffraction patterns.

Theory of plane transmission grating

Consider XY is the grating surface and RS be the screen, figure 2.4, both perpendicular to the plane of
the paper. The slits are all parallel to one another and perpendicular to the plane of the paper. Here AB
is a slit and BC is an opaque portion. The width of each slit is 𝑎 and the opaque spacing between any
two consecutive slits is 𝑏. Let a plane wave front incident on the grating surface, all the secondary waves
travelling in the same direction as that of the incident light will come to focus at the point P on the
screen which
corresponds
to the
position of
central
maximum.

Consider the
secondary
waves
travelling in a
direction
inclined at an
angle 𝜃 with
the direction
of the
incident light,
such that the
lens 𝐿 is also
suitably
rotated such
that the axis
of the lens is
parallel to the Figure 2.4

direction of the secondary

waves and all these secondary waves come to focus at point 𝑃1 .

The path difference between the secondary waves starting from A and C is equal to 𝐴𝐶 sin 𝜃.

But 𝐴𝐶 = 𝑎 + 𝑏

⇨path difference = (𝑎 + 𝑏) sin 𝜃

The point 𝑃1 corresponds to the point of maximum intensity if

(𝑎 + 𝑏) sin 𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆 , where 𝑛 = 1,2,3 … etc, the angles 𝜃1 , 𝜃2 , …. 𝜃𝑛 corresponds to the directions of
the principal maxima. For 𝑛 = 1 , gives the direction of the first order image, 𝑛 = 2 gives the direction
of second order image and so on.

The angle of diffraction 𝜃𝑛 corresponding to the direction of the 𝑛𝑡ℎ principal maximum is given by
the equation
 (𝑎 + 𝑏) sin 𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆

In this equation (𝑎 + 𝑏) is
called the grating constant. For
a grating having 𝑁number of
lines per inch, then the grating
element is
1 2.54
(𝑎 + 𝑏) = inch = cm.
𝑁 N

The intensity distribution

on the screen is shown in figure Figure 2.5
2.5. The point P corresponds to
the position of the central maxima and 1,2, etc, on the two sides of P represents the 1st , 2nd , etc
principal maxima, a,b, etc are secondary maxima and d,e, etc are the secondary minima. The intensity as
well as angular spacing of the secondary maxima and minima is so small in comparison to the principal
maxima that they can not be observed. It results in uniform darkness between any two principal
maxima.