Wave Optics-I

Jayant Nagda
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Jayant Nagda
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B.Tech, IIT Bombay

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 Optics Study of Light & its Properties

Geometrical Optics Wave Optics

or or
Ray Optics Physical Optics
WAVE OPTICS Particle Nature Vs Wave Nature

Light behaves as a wave as well as particle.

Particle nature vs Wave nature
Light is made of tiny particles called corpuscles
which travel in a straight line

Book Optiks
Isaac Newton
(1642 - 1726)
tiny corpuscles of light are now called Photons

not acted upon by

external forces

Proof : light travels in straight lines & casts shadows.

Particle nature vs Wave nature

Reflection : Elastic Collisions

Particle nature or Wave nature

Isaac Newton Refraction : particles of denser medium

(1642 - 1726) attract light particles causing bending.
Particle nature or Wave nature In 1678, Huygens published
Treatise on Light, suggesting that
Christiaan Huygens
Light is a wave phenomenon
(1629 - 1695)

Straight line because wavelength of light is much

smaller than the dimensions of obstacles in its path.
Particle nature or Wave nature
Thomas Young Interference experiment in 1801
(1773 - 1829)

Light from two sources producing Maxima & Minima.

Particle nature or Wave nature
Thomas Young Interference experiment in 1801
(1773 - 1829)

Light from two sources producing Maxima & Minima.

Particle nature or Wave nature

Pattern if Light is considered a stream of Particles

Particle nature or Wave nature
Thomas Young Thomas Young disproved Newton's corpuscular theory.
(1773 - 1829)

Light behaves like a wave in Doubt Slit Experiment

Light is

A. wave phenomenon

B. particle phenomenon
C. both particle and wave phenomenon
D. None
Particle nature or Wave nature

Reflection

Refraction

Interference
Diffraction
Polarization
Particle nature or Wave nature

Reflection
Refraction

Interference

Diffraction
Polarization

Photoelectric
effect
Photoelectric Effect
Hallwachs & Lenard’s experiment in 1900, Photoelectric effect.

Light falling on metal surface,

ejects e-s
whose K.E. does not depends upon
intensity of light used.

Albert Einstein, in 1905 proposed Dual Behaviour,

wave or particle depending on interaction with surrounding.

Even e-s which are particles have a dual character and

they show interference & diffraction under suitable situations.
Particle nature or Wave nature Properties that support wave nature
Interference, Diffraction, Polarization
Contributions of Fresnel, Foucault, Maxwell for wave nature of light

Predicted the existence of

electromagnetic waves

James Clerk Maxwell

Light is a photon

Albert Einstein
Wave Nature of Light

Wave : A travelling disturbance

Some physical quantity changing with space & time.

Transverse Wave
Wave Nature of Light

Wave : A travelling disturbance

Some physical quantity changing with space & time.

Longitudinal Wave
Wave Nature of Light

Wave : A travelling disturbance

Some physical quantity changing with space & time.
Mechanical Wave
y

direction of
propagation

y = y0 sin (kx - ωt)

Wave Nature of Light

Light waves:
Electric field changes in space where light
travels.

Equation of light wave

E = E0 sin (kx - ωt)

E : varying electric field at position x & time t

Wavefront

Contour of all particles which are vibrating in same phase

A surface joining the points of same phase.

Wavefront The propagation of wave happens in
the direction perpendicular to the wavefront.

λ
Light rays
Wavefronts

Shape of Wavefront ?
Wavefront

Contour of all particles which are vibrating in same phase

Spherical Wavefront
Wavefront

Planar Wavefront

The time taken by light to travel from one

wavefront to another is same along any line.
Wavefront
Planar Wavefront

Rays are perpendicular to wavefronts.

The time taken by light to travel from one

wavefront to another is same along any line.
 What shape of wavefront is produced by a
uniform Linear Source of light wave?

A. Spherical
Cylindrical Wavefront
B. Planar
C. Cylindrical
D. Something else,
none of the above
 Plane
Types of Wavefront Spherical Cylindrical
wavefront
wavefront wavefront

Point source Line source Source at ∞

Important points

1. Rays are perpendicular to wavefronts.

2. The time taken by light to travel from
one wavefront to another is same along any line.
Choose the correct option:

(i) A surface on which the wave disturbance in same phase at all

points is called a wavefront.

(ii) The direction of a wave at a point is perpendicular to the

waverfront through that point.

(iii) The wavefronts of a wave originating from a point source is

spherical.
(iv) The wavefronts for a wave going along a fixed direction are
planes perpendicular to that direction.

A. (i), (ⅱ) B. (ⅱ), (ⅲ), (ⅳ) C. (i), (ⅱ), (ⅲ) D. all

Light waves travel in vacuum along the y-axis. Which of the
following may represent the wavefront ?

A. x = constant
B. y = constant
C. z = constant
D. x + y +z = constant
 Light appears to travel in straight lines since

A. it is not absorbed by the atmosphere

B. it is reflected by the atmosphere

C. its wavelength is very small

D. its velocity is very large

Ans : C
 Wave nature of light follows because

A. light rays travel in a straight line

B. light exhibits the phenomena of reflection and refraction

C. light exhibits the phenomenon of interference.

D. light causes the phenomenon of photoelectric effect

Ans : C
 Wavefront means

A. All particles in it have same phase

B. All particles have opposite phase of vibrations

C. few particles are in same phase, rest are in
opposite phase

D. None of these.

Ans : A Ans : A
 A wavefront and a ray of light are

A. perpendicular to each other

B. parallel to each other

C. converging towards each other

D. diverging from one another

Ans : A
Huygen’s Principle

1. Every point on a wavefront vibrates in same phase

with same frequency.

Spherical Wavefront Planar Wavefront

S
Huygen’s Principle
2. Every point on a wavefront acts like a secondary source of
light and sends out a spherical wave called Secondary Wave
in direction of wave propagation.
Huygen’s Principle
2. Every point on a wavefront acts like a secondary source of
light and sends out a spherical wave called Secondary Wave
in direction of wave propagation.
Huygen’s Principle
2. Every point on a wavefront acts like a secondary source of
light and sends out a spherical wave called Secondary Wave
in direction of wave propagation.

Disturbance beyond this

surface results from
superposition of these
Secondary Wavelets.

Envelope of all these

secondary wavelets is
displaced outwardly
Huygen’s Principle
2. Every point on a wavefront acts like a secondary source of
light and sends out a spherical wave called Secondary Wave
in direction of wave propagation.

3. Wavefronts move in space with the velocity of wave in that medium.

Huygen’s Principle

1. Every point on a wavefront vibrates

in same phase with same frequency.

2. Every point on a wavefront acts like a

secondary source of light and sends out
a spherical wave called Secondary
Wave in direction of wave propagation.

3. Wavefronts move in space with the

velocity of wave in that medium.
Reflection based on Wave Theory

Incident wavefront
3
B
2

1 i

M1 A M2
Reflection based on Wave Theory
Reflection based on Wave Theory

Incident wavefront Reflected wavefront

3 3'
B B'

2 2’

1 1’
i r
i r
M1 A A' M2

BA’ = c x t 1

AB’ = c x t 2
 Reflection based on Wave Theory
Is Δ AA’B is congruent with Δ A’AB’ ?
Incident Reflected
wavefront wavefront
3 3' AB’ = BA’ = ct
B'
B
2 2’
∠ABA’ = ∠A’B’A = 900
1 1’
i r
i r AA’ is common
M1 A A' M2
Hence ∠i = ∠r
 Reflection based on Wave Theory
Δ AA’B is congruent with Δ A’AB’
Incident Reflected
wavefront wavefront AB’ = BA’ = ct
3 3'
B'
B ∠ABA’ = ∠A’B’A = 900
2 2’

1 1’ AA’ is common
i r
i r
M1 A A' M2 Hence ∠i = ∠r

Since incident wavefront, plane of mirror, and reflected wavefront

are perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

Therefore, incident ray, normal to mirror and reflected ray

all lie in the same plane (plane of paper).
Reflection based on Wave Theory
Spherical wavefronts shown in figure, strike a plane mirror.
Reflected wavefront will be as shown in

A. B.

C. D.
Refraction based on Wave Theory

i
Med1 μ1 A

Med2 μ2
Refraction based on Wave Theory
Refraction based on Wave Theory
Refraction based on Wave Theory

i
Med1 μ1 A

Med2 μ2
Refraction based on Wave Theory
BA’ = c1t

AB’ = c2t
B

i
i A’
Med1 μ1 A i
r
Med2 μ2
r
B’
Refraction based on Wave Theory
BA’ = c1t

AB’ = c2t
B

Δ ABA’
i sin i = A’B / AA’
i A’
Med1 μ1 A i
r Δ A’B’A
Med2 μ2
r sin r = AB’ / AA’
B’

?
 Refraction based on Wave Theory
BA’ = c1t

AB’ = c2t
B
Δ ABA’
sin i = A’B / AA’
i
i A’
Med1 μ1 A i Δ A’B’A
r sin r = AB’ / AA’ = c1 / c2
Med2 μ2
r
B’
Refraction based on Wave Theory
Refraction based on Wave Theory
Wavefronts incident on an interface between the media
are shown in the figure. The refracted wavefront will be

μ=1
450 300 300
A. B.
μ = √2

600 600
C. D.
Figure shows a wavefront passing through an unknown
optical system and emerging as another wavefront on right.
The systems could be -

A. a prism

B. a convergent lens
??
C. a divergent lens

D. a mirror
Huygen’s Wave Theory
Total time taken by the light ray from one wavefront to
another wavefront along any light ray will be same
A wavefront AB passing through a system C emerges as DE.
The system C could be -

A. a slit

B. a biprism

C. a prism

D. a glass slab
Figure shows a wavefront P passing through two systems
A and B, and emerging as Q and then as R.
The systems A and B could, respectively, be -

A. a prism and a convergent lens

B. a convergent lens and a prism
C. a divergent lens and a prism
D. a convergent lens and a divergent lens
The figure shows a surface XY separating two transparent media,
medium-1 and medium-2. The line ab and cd represent waveforms
of a light wave travelling in medium-1 and incident on XY. The
lines ef and gh represent wavefronts of the light wave in medium-
2 after refraction [IIT JEE 2007]
b d

medium - 1

a c
X Y
f h

medium - 2
e g
 Light travels as a
b d
A. parallel beam in each medium
medium - 1 B. convergent beam in each medium

a c C. divergent beam in each medium

X Y
f h D. divergent beam in one medium and
convergent beam in the other medium.
medium - 2
e g

Ans : A
 The phases of the light wave at c, d, e and f
are Φc , Φd , Φe and Φf respectively. It is given that Φc ≠ Φf
b d
A. Φc cannot be equal to Φd

medium - 1 B. Φd can be equal to Φe

a c C. (Φd – Φf ) is equal to (Φc – Φe )

X Y
f h D. (Φd – Φc ) is not equal to (Φf – Φe )

medium - 2
e g

Ans : C
 Speed of light is
b d
A. the same in medium-1 and medium-2
medium - 1 B. larger in medium-1 than in medium-2

a c C. larger in medium-2 than in medium-1

X Y
f h D. different at b and d

medium - 2
e g

Ans : B
Terms

Polychromatic light Light containing several wavelengths.

Example : torch light

 Terms
Monochromatic light

Light of same wavelength.

Example : Laser
Terms

Polychromatic light

Monochromatic light
 Terms
Two sources are said to be coherent
Coherent sources
if they produce waves of same frequency
with a constant phase difference
(not changing with time)
Following two light sources are

A. Coherent B. Non-Coherent
 Terms
InCoherent sources having no definite or stable phase relationship.
 Terms
InCoherent sources sources with different frequencies

Phase difference changes with time.

Interference Pattern will not be sustained.
To demonstrate the phenomenon of interference,
we require two sources which emit radiation
[AIEEE 2003]

A. of nearly the same frequency

B. of the same frequency

C. of different wavelengths

D. of the same frequency and having a

definite phase relationship
Interference of Waves
Superposition Principle

When two or more waves meet at a point,

the resultant wave has a displacement which is the
algebraic sum of the displacements of each wave.
 Interference of Light Superposition Principle

for Light Waves The instantaneous optical disturbance at a point

where two or more light waves cross
is the sum of the optical disturbances
that would be produced by each of the waves separately.

y = y1 + y2
Sinusoidal Wave

y = A sin (kx - ωt + Φ)

A: amplitude of wave
T: time period
Φ: phase constant
λ: wavelength
ω: angular frequency
Two waves are represented by y1 = a sin ωt and y2 = a cos ωt,
the first wave

A. leads the second by π

B. lags the second by π

C. leads the second by π/2

D. lags the second by π/2

Interference of Waves

y1 = A1 sin (kx - ωt) y2 = A2 sin (kx - ωt + δ)

According to the principle of superposition

y = y1 + y2

y = A1 sin (kx - ωt) + A2 sin (kx - ωt + δ)

Interference of Waves
y = (A1 + A2 cos δ) sin (kx - ωt) + (A2 sin δ) cos (kx - ωt)

y = A cos Φ sin (kx - ωt) + A sin Φ cos (kx - ωt)

= A sin (kx - ωt + Φ)

Where
C = A1 + A2 cos δ = A cos Φ D = A2 sin δ = A sin Φ
Interference of Waves

also

y1 = A1 sin (kx - ωt)

A
A2
y2 = A2 sin (kx - ωt + δ)
Φ δ
y = A sin (kx - ωt + Φ) A1

Interfering Waves must have:

same frequency (𝜈 and also ⍵)
and constant phase difference
Interference of Light Waves
S1, S2 are two coherent sources superposing at P.
If phase difference between them at P is Φ and
amplitude of two sources are A1 & A2
then resultant amplitude at P will be
S1 A1
∆Φ = Φ
P

S2 A2
If two waves represented by y1 = 4 sin ωt and
y2 = 3 sin (ωt + π/3) interfere at a point, the amplitude of
the resulting wave will be nearly about

A. 7 B. 6 C. 5 D. 3.5
Interference of Light Waves

I : Intensity of a wave
I∝ A2
A: Amplitude of wave

Resultant Intensity at P is
Two monochromatic light waves of amplitudes A and
2A interfering at a point, have a phase difference of 60o.
The intensity at that point will be proportional to

A. 3A2 B. 5A2 C. 7A2 D. 9A2

Relation between Φ and x
S1
P

S2
Relation between Φ and x y1 = y01 sin(kx - ωt)

S1 y2 = y02 sin(k(x + ∆x) - ωt)

P = y02 sin(kx - ωt + k ∆x)

S2

Relationship between path difference (x)

and phase difference (ф)
Relation between Φ and x

Relationship between path difference (x) and phase difference (ф)

Constructive Interference

1. Condition for Maxima

Constructive Interference
1. Condition for Maxima/ Bright Fringe/ Constructive Interference

CosΦ = +1 OR Φ = 2nπ OR ∆x = nλ n = 0, 1, 2, ....

Destructive Interference
2. Condition for Minima

CosΦ = -1
Destructive Interference
2. Condition for Minima/ Dark Fringe/ Destructive Interference

CosΦ = -1 OR Φ = (2n - 1)π OR ∆x = (n - ½ )λ n = 1, 2, 3, ....

Interference of Waves If slits of equal size are used then I1 = I2 = I0

1. Constructive Interference or Maxima

resultant intensity

Imax = 4 I0

very bright spot or Bright fringe

2. Destructive Interference or Minima

Imin = 0

(dark spot or Dark Fringe)

 Two sources of waves are called coherent if

A. Both have same amplitude of vibrations

B. Both produce waves of the same wavelength

C. Both produce waves of the same wavelength

having constant phase difference
D. Both produce waves having the same velocity.

Ans: C
 In Young's double slit experiment, the interference pattern
is found to have an intensity ratio between the bright and
dark fringes as 9. This implies that
A. the intensities at the screen due to the two slits
are 5 units and 4 units respectively.
B. the intensities at the screen due to the two slits
are 4 units and 1 unit respectively
C. the amplitude ratio is 3
D. the amplitude ratio is 2

Ans: B, D
YDSE Visualization
YDSE Visualization
Young’s Double Slit Experiment
 Young’s Double Slit Experiment

P Δx = S2P - S1P = ?

S1
distance

Screen
between d
the slits
(sources)
S2

D
Distance between
the Slits and Screen
Young’s Double Slit Experiment
Δx = S2P - S1P

S1

d
M
S2

S1P and S2P are almost parallel as D >> d

 Young’s Double Slit Experiment Δx = d Sinθ

P Since D >> d

S1 y
θ
d θ

S2

D
Young’s Double Slit Experiment
⇒

For nth maxima Δx = ?

Interference
1. Condition for Maxima / Constructive Interference

CosΦ = +1 OR Φ = 2nπ OR ∆x = nλ

n = 0, 1, 2, ....

2. Condition for Minima / Destructive Interference

CosΦ = -1 OR Φ = (2n - 1)π OR ∆x = (n - ½ )λ

Relation between Φ and x
Relation between phase difference (Φ) and path difference (Δx) is
Young’s Double Slit Experiment

For nth maxima Δx = nλ

n = 0, ± 1, ± 2…...

For nth minima Δx = ?

Young’s Double Slit Experiment

For nth maxima Δx = nλ

n = 0, ± 1, ± 2…...

For nth minima Δx = (n - ½)λ

n = 1, 2, 3…...
Young’s Double Slit Experiment
Screen For nth maxima

3 Bright

2 Bright
n = 0, ± 1, ± 2…...
1 Bright
y1 : distance of first bright
fringe from centre O
1 Bright

2 Bright y2 : distance of second bright

fringe from centre O
3 Bright
y7 : distance of seventh bright
fringe from centre O
Young’s Double Slit Experiment
For nth minima
Screen
4 Dark

3 Dark

2 Dark n = 1, 2, 3…...

1 Dark
y1 : distance of first dark
1 Dark
fringe from centre O
2 Dark
y2 : distance of second dark
3 Dark fringe from centre O
4 Dark
y7 : distance of seventh dark
fringe from centre O
Fringe width β

Distance between two successive maxima or minima.

Bright fringe Dark fringe

β = yn+1 - yn

β β
Monochromatic green light of wavelength 5 × 10–7 m
illuminates a pair of slits 1 mm apart. The separation of
bright lines in the interference pattern formed on a screen
2 m away is

A. 0.25 mm B. 0.1 mm C. 1.0 mm D. 0.01 mm

In Young's experiment, two coherent sources are placed
0.90 mm apart and the fringes are observed one meter away.
If it produces the second dark fringe at a distance of 1 mm
from central fringe the wavelength of monochromatic light
used would be
A. 60 × 10–4 cm B. 10 × 10–4 cm

C. 10 × 10–5 cm D. 6 × 10–5 cm
A mixture of light waves having wavelength 560 nm & 400 nm
falls normally on a YDSE setup. The distance between the slits is
0.1 mm and the distance of the screen from the slits is 1 m.
Distance between two successive total dark regions is
[IITScr. - 2004]
A. 4 mm B. 14 mm C. 5.6 mm D. 28 mm

Ans : D
Interference of Light Waves

S1 A1
∆Φ = Φ
P
I : Intensity of a wave
S2 A2 I∝ A2
A: Amplitude of wave

Resultant Intensity at P is
In YDSE if intensity of each source is I0.
The resultant intensity at a point on screen
where phase difference is π/3

A. 0 B. I0 C. 2I0 D. 3I0
In YDSE if intensity of each source is I0.
The resultant intensity at a point on screen
where path difference is 3λ/4

A. 0 B. I0 C. 2I0 D. 3I0
 Intensity Variation in YDSE
If slits of equal sizes are used then I1 = I2 = I0
By superposition principle, resultant intensity

1. Constructive Interference 2. Destructive Interference

Φ = 2nπ OR ∆x = nλ Φ = (2n - 1)π OR ∆x = (n - ½ )λ

Imax = 4 I0 Imin = 0

very bright spot dark spot

In general, at any other point:

Intensity Variation in YDSE
In general, at any other point

∆x =
d sinθ
-3λ/2 -λ -λ/2 0 λ/2 λ 3λ/2 2λ 5λ/2

Φ
Intensity Variation in YDSE
In general, at any other point

If slits of equal sizes are used

I

4I0

∆x =
d sinθ
-3λ/2 -λ -λ/2 0 λ/2 λ 3λ/2 2λ 5λ/2

-3π -2π -π π 2π 3π 4π Φ
Interference If slits of unequal sizes are used
then I1 ≠ I2 ≠ I0

1. for Maxima / Constructive Interference

2. for Minima / Destructive Interference

Intensity Variation in YDSE

I
Imax = I1 + I2 + 2√I1I2

Imin = I1 + I2 - 2√I1I2

π 2π 3π 4π Φ
In interference, the intensity
in a maximum (√I1 + √I2)2 greater than (I1 + I2) by 2√(I1I2),
while in minimum (√I1 - √I2)2 less than (I1 + I2)by 2√(I1I2).
 Intensity Variation in YDSE
Eg I1 = Io & I2 = 4Io

I
Imax = I1 + I2 + 2√I1I2

Imin = I1 + I2 - 2√I1I2

π 2π 3π 4π Φ
 When interference of light takes place

A. Energy is created in the region of maximum intensity

B. Energy is destroyed in the region of maximum intensity

C. Conservation of energy holds good and energy is redistributed

D. Conservation of energy does not hold good

Intensity Variation in YDSE
Whatever energy disappears at the minimum, it actually
appears at the maximum.

Imax = (√I1 + √I2)2

Imin = (√I1 - √I2)2

π 2π 3π 4π

So in interference, energy is neither created nor destroyed

but is redistributed i.e.
law of conservation of energy is valid in interference.
Fringe Visibility

when I1 ≠ I2 then Imin ≠ 0

fringe visibility is poor

If slits of equal size are used then I1 = I2 = I0

Imax = 4 I0 Imin = 0

very bright spot (absolute dark spot

or Bright fringe or Dark Fringe)

when Imin = 0 then fringe

visibility is maximum
Fringe Visibility

Fringe Visibility

i.e. when both slits are of equal width

the fringe visibility is best and equal to 100 %

Eg I 1 = I2 = Io Eg I1 = Io & I2 = 4Io
Two coherent sources of intensity ratio 9 : 1 produce an
interference pattern. The fringe visibility will be -

A. 75 %

B. 60 %

C. 50 %

D. 40 %
The contrast in the fringes in any interference pattern
depends on
A. Fringe width

B. Wavelength

C. Intensity ratio of the sources

D. Distance between the sources

Ans : C
Order of Maxima on Screen
Δx = d sinθ

S1
d/2
θ

d/2
S2
Order of Maxima on Screen

Hence, the highest order of interference maxima,

While [ ] represents the greatest integer function

The maximum number of possible interference maxima for slit-
separation equal to twice the wavelength in Young’s double-slit
experiment is
[AIEEE 2004]

A. three
B. five
C. infinite
D. zero
The interference pattern is obtained with two coherent light
sources of intensity ratio η. The value of is

Ans : A
Two beams of light having intensities I and 4I interfere to
produce a fringe pattern on a screen. The phase difference
between the beams is π/2 at point A and π at point B. Then
the difference between the resultant intensities at A and B
is [IIT-JEE 2001]
A. 2 I B. 4 I C. 5 I D. 7 I

Ans
Ans: :BB
In Young's double slit experiment, the intensity on the
screen at a point where path difference is λ is K. What will
be the intensity at the point where path difference is λ/4

A. K/4 B. K/2 C. K D. Zero

Ans
Ans: :BB
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