Diffraction of the Light

The bending of light around the corners of the narrow opening or obstacles and spreading of light waves into the geometrical
shadow of an object is called diffraction.
• To occur the diffraction pattern, the size of obstacles or opening must be comparable to the wavelength of wave.
• All wave shows diffraction phenomena i.e., mechanical wave and electromagnetic wave such as in both sound wave and light
wave. But it is common for sound wave but not for light wave.
Type of the diffraction
The diffraction patterns are classified into two types on the basis of the distance of the source
and screen are placed. They are;
(i) Fresnel’s Diffraction
(ii) Fraunhofer’s Diffraction.

Fresnel’s Diffraction Slit

In this type of diffraction, the source of light or screen or both

Sc
re
en

are at finite distances form obstacle or aperture. No lenses are S

used to make the rays parallel or convergent. The incident wave

front is not plane but either spherical or cylindrical.
Fig- Fresnel’s Diffraction
Fraunhofer’s diffraction
: In this type of diffraction, the source of light and the screen are effectively at infinite distances
from the aperture or obstacles. Two convex lenses are used, one to before it falls on the narrow
aperture and other to focus the light after diffraction on the screen. This arrangement in fact
removes the sources and the screen to infinity. The incident wavefront is plane.

Slit

Sc
re
e
S
n

Fig- Fraunhofer’s Diffraction

Fraunhofer’s Diffraction at a single Slit
The experimental setup for the diffraction of light
through the single slit is shown in figure. The parallel
beam of light from monochromatic beam of light of
wavelength  incident normally on the narrow silt AB of
width ’d’. The light passing through the slit suffers
diffraction. If d lens L2 is placed in the path of the
diffracted beam, a real image of diffraction pattern is
obtained on the screen XY placed at the focal plane of
the lens. According to Huygen’s theory, when a plane
wavefront is incident on the slit AB, each point on the
wave front acts as source of secondary wavelets.
Central maximum
The secondary wavelets from the slit AB in a direction parallel to CO comes to focus at O and a
bright central image is formed. Central Bright is formed due to the secondary waves from points
equidistant from 'C' and situated in the upper and lower halves CA & CB of the wavefront will
travel same distance in reaching at 'O' which results the path-difference to be zero. Thus, point
'O' is the position of maximum intensity which is known as the central maximum.
Position of the secondary minima
Suppose the secondary waves making an angle  with CO. These secondary
wavelets at a point 'P' which will have a maximum or minimum intensity
depending upon the path - difference between the secondary waves originating
from the corresponding points of the wave front.
Draw AN perpendicular to the direction of the diffracted rays from A.
𝐵𝑁
In  ABN, Sin  =
𝐴𝐵
 BN = AB sin  = d sin  ………………. (1)
Where BN is the path - difference between the wavelets from A and B.
Let us suppose wavefront AB can be considered to be made up of two halves
AC & BC. If the path - difference between secondary waves from A & B is ,

then the path - difference between the secondary waves from A & C is .
2

Similarly, the path - difference between B & C is . Hence, it gives rise to
2
destructive interference at P which has minimum intensity.
For 1st minimum, d sin  =  …………………. (2)
For 2nd minimum, BN = d sin  = 2 ……………. (3)
d sin  = 2 ……………. (3)
In general, for the various secondary minima, the path - difference BN Intensity

between wavelets from A & B should be an integral multiple of .Thus,

for nth secondary minima, we have
d sin n = n ……………………. (4)
Position of secondary maxima
In addition to the central maximum at 'O' there are secondary maxima
which lie in between the secondary minima on either side of the central
maximum. These are situated in a direction on which the path - difference
- O Sin 
BN is an odd multiple of . Thus, for secondary maxima

d sin n = (2n + 1) 2 ……………………. (5)

Where, n = 1, 2, 3 ……… and thus, we find that the diffraction pattern

due to a single slit consist of a central maximum at 'O' followed by
secondary minima and maxima both sides.
Width of the centre maxima
The width of the central maximum is defined as the
distance between the first minima on either side of the
central maximum 'O'. Referring from Fig. the first
secondary minimum occurs at point P1& P2. So.
d sin  = n 
 
For 1st minimum, n = 1, and Sin  =   =
d d
…………. (6) [Since sin   , for small ]
The angle subtended by the whole central maximum is 2.
Thus, we get
2
Angular width of central maximum (2) =
d
…………… (7)
If y is the distance from point 'O' to the first minimum on either side
of central maximum, then width of central maximum is 2y.
Let 'D' be the distance between the slit AB and the screen XY.
𝑦
Now, in  COP1, tan  =
𝐷
𝑦
Since  is small angle, tan   ,  =
𝐷
2𝑦
or, 2 = ………………… (8)
𝐷
2 2𝑦 2D
From Eq. (7) & (8), =   2y =
d 𝐷 d
Hence, with of central maximum is,
2D
Linear width of central maximum = 2y = ………... (9)
d
Diffracting grating
The arrangement of large number of parallel slits of equal width separated from one
another by equal opaque space is called diffraction grating.
If the lines are ruled on the transparent medium with diamond coating is called transmission
grating.
If the lines are ruled on the reflecting surface such grating is called reflection grating.
In diffraction grating, the ruled lines called opaque which do not allow to pass the incident
light through them. The space in between the lines is called transparencies.
Let 'a' and 'b' be the width of transparencies and opacities respectively. The value (a + b) is
known as grating element. If N is the number of lines per cm of the grating, then grating
element is given by
1
a + b = cm
𝑁
Suppose a Parallel beam of monochromatic light of
wavelength '' is incident normally on the grating
surface having grating space or grating element (a
+ b). The secondary maxima with multiple slits
occur into the same direction as for the two - slit
pattern in young's experiment. Let 1 is angle of
diffraction for first secondary maximum. then
d sin n= n
(a + b) sin 𝜃1 =, Where n = 1 & d = a + b.
Similarly, for 2nd order maximum (n = 2),
we get, (a + b) Sin 2 = 2
In general, for nth order maximum,
(a + b) Sin n = n , Where n = 1, 2, 3 …….
POINT TO BE REMEMBER
For secondary minima: dsinθn=nλ where n=0,1,2,….
(2𝑛+1)λ
 For secondary maxima: dsinθn = where n=0,1,2,…..
2
𝝀𝑫
 width(β)= , where a=slit width
𝒅
𝟐𝝀𝑫
Width of central maxima = 2β =
𝒅

For diffraction grating:

• (a+b)sinθn = nλ (a+b)=grating spacing,
1
• (a+b)= , where N=number of lines per mm(cm,inch)
𝑁

 for maximum number of diffraction , θn = 90

. A parallel beam of sodium is incident normally on a diffraction grating. The angle between two first
order spectra on either side of normal is 270 42′ . Assuming that the wavelength of light is
5.893 × 10−7 m . Find the number of ruling per mm on the grating.
Solution
Wavelength of sodium light λ=5.893 × 10−7

1 42 0
First order spectrum occurs at an angle 𝜃 = 27 + =13.850
2 60

Also we know,
(a+b)sin𝜃 = λ
λ
(a+b) = =
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

1
Therefore, no of lines per mm(N) = =?
𝑎+𝑏
2. Parallel ray of green mercury light of wavelength of 546nm pass through a slit covering a lens with
a focal length of 60.0 cm and the diffraction pattern is obtained in the focal plane of the lens. If the
distance of first minima from the central maximum is 10.2mm. What is the width of the slit?
Solution
Wavelength of light λ=546nm=546 × 10−9 m
D= 60cm =0.6m
y=10.2mm = 10.2 × 10−3 m
Slit separation a=?
λ𝐷
𝑦=
𝑑

λ𝐷
d=
𝑦
6. Light of wavelength 5.5 × 10−7 m passed through a slit of 0.5mm width and forms a diffraction
pattern on a screen 2.5m away. What is the width of central maximum?
Solution,
We know angular fringe width
2λ𝐷
2𝑦 =
𝑑
1. A slit of width 'a' is illuminated by blue light of wavelength 6000 Ǻ. For what value of 'a' will the first
minimum fall at an angle of diffraction of 300.
Solution: Wavelength(λ)= 6000 Ǻ=6000×10-10 m
θ1= 300
For the first order minima, asinθ1=n λ
𝑛λ 1×6000×10−10
a= = =1.2×10-6 m
𝑠𝑖𝑛θ1 𝑠𝑖𝑛 30
2. How wide is the central diffraction peak on a screen 1.5m behind a 0.01 mm slit illuminated by 500nm
light source?
Width of slit (d)=0.01mm=0.01×10-3m
Wavelength of light(λ)=500nm=500×10-9m
Distance between screen and slit (D)=1.5m
Wide of central maxima (2y)=?
2λD 2×500×10−9
We know that wide of central maxima(2y)= = × 1.5=……….m
𝑑 0.01×10−3
3. A diffraction grating with 3000 lines to the centimeter gives a third order diffraction maximum at an
angle 30° from the central band. Find the wavelength of light diffracted and the angle at which the first
order maximum is to be observed.
Soln: N=3000line/cm
1 1
(a + b) = = cm, n = 3 3 = 30°
𝑁 3000
 =? 1=?
We have, (a + b) sin n = n 
1
For 3rd order, sin 30° = 3 
3000
 = 5556 × 10–8 cm.
Again, for the first order maximum
(a + b) sin 1 = 1
1
or, sin 1 = 1.5556 × 10–8
3000
 1 = 9.6°
A diffraction grating has 400 lines per mm and is illuminated normally by monochromatic light of
wavelength 6 × 10–7 m. Calculate (a) the grating spacing (b) the angle at which the first principal order or
maximum is seen, (c) the number of diffraction maximum obtained.
Soln:
1 1
(a)The grating spacing, (a+b) = = mm= 0.25 × 10–2 mm = 0.25 × 10–5 m
𝑁 400
(b)  = 6 × 10 – 7 m
For the 1st order maximum , (a+b)sinθ=
𝜆
or, sinθ =
𝑎+𝑏
𝜆
or, θ = sin–1 = 13.90°
𝑎+𝑏
(c) The highest order of spectra corresponds to  = 90°,
Hence n = (a+b) sin 90°
(𝑎+𝑏)
n= = 4.17
𝜆
 The highest order of spectra = 4
RESOLVING POWER OF OPTICAL INSTRUMENT
The ability/ capacity of an optical instrument to distinctly see two object which are very close to each other is
called resolving power of that optical instrument and the phenomena is called resolution.
Rayleigh criteria for resolution

According to Rayleigh when central maxima of diffraction pattern of one fall first minima of diffraction pattern
of other point source then two object (point sources ) can be resolved by optical instrument.
Resolving power of a microscope: The resolving power of a microscope is defined as reciprocal
of the smallest distance between two point objects at which they can be just resolved when
seen through the microscope.
The smallest distance between two point object at which they can be just resolved by the
microscope, or the limit of resolution, is given by;
𝜆
d=
2𝜇 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
Where,  = the wavelength of light used,
 = half the angel of cone of light from each point object or the angle subtended by each
point object or the angle subtended by each point object on the radius of the objective
m = the refractive index of the medium between the point object and the objective of the
microscope.

1 2𝜇 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
 Resolving power of a microscope = =
𝑑 𝜆
Resolving power of a telescope: The resolving power of a telescope is defined as
the reciprocal of the smallest angular separation between two distant objects
whose images can be just resolved by it. The smallest linear angular separation
between two distant objects whose images can be just resolved by the
telescope, or the limit of resolution, is given by
1.22𝜆
d =
𝐷
Where,  = the wavelength of light,
D = the diameter of the telescope objective, and
d = the angle subtended by the two distant objects at the objective.
1 𝐷
Therefore, resolving power of telescope(P)= =
𝑑𝜃 1.22𝜆