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Chapter 4 : INTERFERENCE IN THIN FILMS

Session 3 : Interference in Thin film of Non-uniform thickness
(Wedge shaped film)

THIN FILM OF NON UNIFORM THICKNESS (WEDGE SHAPED FILM )

R1
F

D
H1
i

r
r+θ

A
N
i
i

B
r
r+θ r+θ
E
θ I
G
H
C
θ

Intereference at
wedge shaped film r+θ

Consider two plane surfaces, GH and G1H1 inclined at an angle θ, which enclose a wedge
shaped air film.
The thickness of the air film increases from G to H as shown in the figure.
Let µ be the refractive index of the material of the film.

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When this film is illuminated by the monochromatic light and the reflected light is
viewed from the upper surface, alternate dark and bright fringes are observed.
This is due to the interference of the reflected rays.
The interfering rays BR and DR1 are not parallel but appear to diverge from each other.
Let us calculate the path difference between these two rays.
Δ = μ ( BC + CD) - BF
Δ = μ ( BE + EC + CD) - BF - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (1)
BE BF
In ΔBDE, sin r = and In ΔBFD, sin i =
BD BD
BF
sin i BD = BF
∴ μ = =
sin r BE BE
BD
∴ BF = μ BE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (2)
Substituting (2) in (1), we get -
Δ = μ ( BE + EC + CD ) - μ BE
= μ ( EC + CD) ( Q Δ DIC ≡ Δ PIC, CD = CP )
= μ ( EC + CP) = µ EP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (3)
∠ BCN is exterior to Δ BCQ ∴ ∠ BCN = ( r + θ )
∴ ∠ NCD = ( r + θ ) which gives ∠ CDI = (r + θ ) ( Opposite to ∠ NCD )
∴ ∠ IPC = ( r + θ )
EP EP
Now, from Δ DEP, we have cos ( r + θ ) = = , t is thickness of film at pt. I
DP 2t
∴ EP = 2 t cos ( r + θ ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -(4)
Substituting this in (3), we get -
Δ = 2 μ t cos ( r + θ ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -(5)

As the reflection at point B is at the surface of denser medium, additional path change of λ/2 is
introduced for ray BR1. Hence effective path difference becomes -
λ
Δ = 2 μ t cos ( r + θ ) ± ----------------------------------------------(6)
2
Condition for Maxima :
Δ = nλ
λ
∴ 2 μ t cos ( r + θ ) ± = nλ
2
λ
∴ 2 μ t cos ( r + θ ) = ( 2n ± 1 ) whe re n = 0, 1, 2, ......
2
Condition for Minima :
λ
Δ = ( 2n ± 1 )
2
λ λ
∴ 2 μ t cos ( r + θ ) ± = ( 2n ± 1 )
2 2
∴ 2 μ t cos ( r + θ ) = n λ where n = 0, 1, 2, ........

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Experimental Setup for Wedge shaped film experiment:

Microscope

Glass Plate

Source

Lens

Wedge shape
film

Experimental Set up of Wedge Shape film Experiment

Nature of Interference Pattern :

If the light illuminating the film is parallel, then i and r are constant everywhere. If the light used
is monochromatic, then the path change will occur only due to t. As the thickness of the film
created is constant along the line, the interference pattern will be linear and parallel to the thin
edge of the wedge. And as fringe width depends on wavelength, refractive index of the film and
angle of wedge which all are constant, the fringes will have equal thickness.

Interference fringes in
Wedge shaped film

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Fringe width :

Fringe width is defined as distance between two consecutive bright bands.

For nth maxima, we have –

λ
2 μ t cos ( r + θ ) = ( 2n + 1 )
2
For normal incidence, r = 0
λ
∴ 2 µ t cos θ = ( 2n + 1 )
------------------------------(1)
2
Let this band be obtained at a distance xn from the thin edge as shown below

θ
t
xn

xn+1
To determine fringe width
t
From figure, tan θ = ⇒ t = x n tan θ ----------------------------(2)
xn
From (1) and (2)
λ
2 µ x n tan θ cos θ = ( 2n + 1 )
2
λ
i.e. 2 µ x n sin θ = ( 2n + 1 ) --------------------------------(3)
2
If (n+1)th maximum is obtained at a distance xn+1 from the thin edge, then
λ λ
2 µ x n +1 sin θ = [ 2(n + 1) + 1 ] = ( 2n + 3)
2 2
λ
2 µ x n +1 sin θ = ( 2n + 3) ------------------------------------(4)
2
Subtracting (3) from (4) we get –
λ
2 µ ( x n +1 - x n ) sin θ = (2n + 3 - 2n - 1)
2
λ
x n +1 − x n = which is the spacing between the consecutive bright fringes.
2 µ sin θ
If a is very small, and measured in radians, then this spacing is given by –

λ λ
β = x n +1 − x n = (if θ in degrees) ≈ (if θ in radians) ----(5)
2 µ sin θ 2µθ

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How to check optical flatness of the surface using wedge shape film?

Interference pattern is obtained with the wedge shape film.

If the interference pattern is perfectly linear as shown below, the two glass plates are
perfectly flat.
If the interference pattern is not linear, the surfaces are not flat.

Interference fringes Interference fringes

in Wedge shaped film in Wedge shaped film
if both surfaces are if both surfaces are
perfectly flat perfectly flat

Determination of diameter of a thin wire using Wedge Shaped Film

A wedge shaped film can be obtained by keeping a thin wire or paper between two glass plates
on one side as shown below –

d
θ

L
In wedge shaped film experiment, linear interference pattern is obtained.

Interference fringes in
Wedge shaped film

λ
Fringe width if the interference pattern is given by- β = . This fringe width can
2 µ sin θ
be measured with the help of travelling microscope.

 λ 
The angle of wedge is given by - ∴ θ = sin -1  
2µβ
Now, the diameter of wire / thickness of paper can be calculated as - d = L tan θ

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1. A wedge shaped air film having angle of 40 seconds is illuminated by

monochromatic light. Fringes are observed vertically through a microscope. The
distance between ten consecutive dark fringes is 1.2 cm. Find the wavelength of
monochromatic light.
Given : µ = 1 , for air film,
40
θ = 40 sec = degrees,
3600
1.2
Fringe width β = = 0.12 cm
10
λ
We know, β =
2 µ sinθ
 40 
∴ λ = β x 2 µ sinθ = 0.12 x 2 x 1 x sin   = 4654 x 10 cm
-5

 3600 
= 4654 A 0

2. Fringes of equal thickness are observed in a thin glass wedge of refractive index
1.52. The fringe spacing obtained with light of wavelength 5893A0 is 0.1 mm.
Calculate angle of wedge.
Given : λ = 5893 A0 = 5893 x 10-8 cm, β = 0.1 mm = 0.01 cm, µ = 1.52

λ 5893 × 10 -8
θ = = = 0.001938 rad = 0.110
2 µ β 2 × 1.52 × 0.01

8. When a wedge shaped air film is viewed by a monochromatic source of light

incident normally, the interference fringes 0.4 mm apart are observed. If the air
space is filled with water (µ = 1.33), how far apart will the fringes be observed?

Given : βair = 0.4 mm = 0.04 cm, µ water = 1.33

λ
β air = - - - - - - - - - - - -(1) as µ for air is 1.
2θ
λ
β water = - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (2)
2 µ water θ
Divide (2) by (1)
β water 1
=
β air µ
1 1
β water = β air = × 0.04 = 0.03 cm
µ 1.33

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4. An air wedge is formed by keeping a fine wire at one edge between two glass plates.
When the film is illuminated normally with light of wavelength 550 nm, fringe-
width of the fringes observed is 1 mm. Calculate the diameter of the wire if the
length of the plate is 5cm.
Given : λ = 550nm = 550 × 10-9 m, μ = 1, β = 1 mm = 10-3 m

d
θ

L
λ
β =
2 µ sin θ
 λ   550 × 10 -9 
∴ θ = sin -1   = sin -1   = 0.0157 0
-3 
2µβ  2 × 1 × 10 
diameter, d = L tan θ = 5 × tan(0.0157) = 1.37 × 10 -3 cm

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