Interference

Principle of
Superposition
 Interference

Interference is the redistribution of energies of the two wave

fronts superimposing on each other. The resultant energy is
non-uniformly distributed in the form of bright and dark bands.
.
 Intensity of an Interference
Pattern
Constructive Interference
I=(a1+a2)2 Phase difference= 2nπ
Path difference = nλ
where n = 0,1,2,3……….
Destructive Interference
I=(a1-a2)2 Phase difference= (2n+1)π
Path difference = (2n+1)λ/2
where n = 0,1,2,3……….
Conditions for sustained interference:
Two light sources must be coherent.
Two coherent sources must be narrow, otherwise a single
source will act as a multi sources.

The waves from coherent sources must have the same

frequency
The amplitude of two waves should be equal so that we
can get good contrast between bright and dark fringes.

The distance between two coherent sources must be

small.
The distance between two coherent sources and screen
should be reasonable. The large distances of screen reduce
to intensity.
• The line of propagation of the waves must
be same.
• The state of polarization of the waves
should be same.
 Coherent Sources
Coherent sources are those, which produce waves of equal
frequency in all possible direction such that the phase
difference between the waves should be either zero or it should
remain constant with time.

Technique to obtained coherent sources-……

Q- May two independent sources act as

coherent sources
 Type of interference
Interference by division of wave front
 Young’s double slit experiment
 Fresnel’s Bi-prism experiment
 Lloyd’s mirror

Interference by division of amplitude

 Thin Film experiment
 Newton’s rings
 Michelson interferometer