DIFFRACTION OF LIGHT

Diffraction of light : -
The phenomenon of bending of light around
the corners of an obstacle or an aperture into the
region of geometrical shadow of obstacle is called
diffraction of light.
Type of diffraction : -
Diffraction phenomenon can be divided into
two types:
1. Fresnel diffraction : -
In this diffraction, source and screen or both
are finite distance from the obstacles
causing the diffraction.
2. Fraunhoffer diffraction : -
In this diffraction, source and screen
are infinite distance from the obstacles
causing the diffraction.
Ex : -
Diffraction at single slit or double slit.

Q.
Diffraction of light due to single slit.
Consider a plane wave front (same
frequency) XY incident on the slit AB of
width d. The distance between slit and
screen is D, as shown in figure.

XY( ), d
AB
D
Since point O is the position of central maximum
because equidistance from points A and B

O maxima A
B
Let the light be diffracted through an angle q, so
the secondary wavelets will also be diffracted
through an angle q, Let these wavelets meet the
screen at point P.

q
q
P
The path difference between these waves at P is,
P
Dx = BP – AP

or( ) Dx = BN + NP – AP from figure

( )

But
NP  AP ( D >> d)
\
( ),

\ D x = BN = d sinq
(i) For minima

minima
When BN = dsinq = l, then divided the slit into
two equal halves, AC and CB. Hence path
difference between the secondary wavelets
originating from A ,C and C,B is equal to l/2. so
destructive interference at point P(minimum
intensity).

BN = dsinq = l, AC
CB A,C C,B
l/2
P( )
Hence for first minimum

minimum
When BN = 2l, then divided the slit into four equal
halves. Hence again path difference = 2l/4 = l/2.
so destructive interference at point P(minimum
intensity)

BN = 2l,
l .
l = l/2
= 2l/4
P( )
Hence for second minimum

minimum

In general, for minimum

minimum

(ii) For second maximum

maximum
If path difference is an odd multiple of l/2, then
the constructive interference takes place at P,
Hence point P is the position of secondary
maxima.

l/2 P
P
maximum

Q. Width of the central maximum

maxima
Ans.
Let f be the focal length of the lens and the
distance of first minimum on either side of the
central maximum be x.

f minimum
maximum x
Ans.
Let f be the focal length of the lens and the
distance of first minimum on either side of the
central maximum be x.

f minimum
maximum x
Limit of resolution :-
The minimum distance of separation
between two points so that they can be seen
as separated by the optical instrument is
known as its limit of resolution.
Resolving power :-
The ability of an optical instrument to form
distinctly separate images of the two closely
placed points or objects is called its resolving
power. or
The reciprocal of the limit of resolution is called
resolving power.

Resolving power of eye:-

Polarisation:-
The phenomenon of restricting the
vibrations of a light in a plane perpendicular to the
direction of propagation of light is called
polarisation of light.
Note:-
Tourmaline crystal is used to polarize the
light and hence is called polarizer.
Polaroid:-
Polaroid is a device used to produce the
plane polarized light.
Polarisation by reflection:-
When ordinary light falls on a glass slab, it is
partially reflected and partially refracted.
At a particular angle of incidence, the reflected
light is completely plane polarised.
The angle of incidence at which the reflected light
is completely plane polarised is known as
polarisation angle(qp). Since this fact was
discovered by Brewster, so polarisation angle is
also known as Brewster angle.

(qp)
When angle of incidence of ordinary light is equal
to polarisation angle, then reflected and refracted
beams of light are perpendicular to each other.
Brewster’s law:-
According to this law, the refractive index of
the refractive medium(m) is numerically equal
to the tangent of the angle of polarisation(qp)
That is, m = tanqp

(m) (qp)
tangent
m = tanqp
Experimentally, reflected component and refracted
component of light are mutually perpendicular,
when