Chapter: Interference:

Interference: British Physicist Thomas Young (Proves wave nature of light)

→ Interference is the superposition of light coming from two coherent sources.
→ In interference, the fringe width be equal.
→ The region of minimum intensity are perfectly dark.
→ All bright fringes are of equal intensity.
→ Interference of light is the phenomenon of non-uniform distribution of light energy in a
medium due to superposition of light waves from two coherent sources.
Coherent source: Two sources of light, which continuously emit light waves of
a) same wavelength or frequency
b) are always in phase or have constant phase difference
c) same amplitude, are coherent sources.
e.g. laser light is coherent source of light
Method of producing coherent source:
a) By division of wave front: Here, wave front is divided into two or more parts by using slits,
mirrors, lenses or prisms and these parts are made to superimpose to produce
interference.(e.g. Young's double slit method, Fresnel's biprism, Lloyd's mirror.)
b) By division of amplitude: Amplitude of wave is divided into two or more parts by partial
refraction or reflection. (e.g. soap film, oil film is used to see brilliant colors)
Incoherent Source:
Two independent light sources which do not emit light waves of same wave length and same
amplitude and also phases are different are called incoherent source of light.
Superposition Principle:
Statement: "When two or more wave motion travelling through a medium superimpose one
another, a new wave is formed in which resultant displacement (𝑦⃗) at any instant is equal to the
vector sum of the displacements due to individual vectors ( 𝑦⃗ , 𝑦⃗ , … … ) at that instant,
i.e. 𝑦⃗ = 𝑦⃗ + 𝑦⃗ + 𝑦⃗ + …….
If there are only two waves, then resultant displacement is given by,
𝑦 = 𝑦⃗ + 𝑦⃗

a) 𝑦 = 𝑦 + 𝑦

Superposition of waves in phase b) 𝑦 = 𝑦 + (−𝑦 ) = 0

(constructive interference)
Superposition of waves in out of phase
(Destructive interference)

The superposition principle holds goods for Mechanical waves as well as Electromagnetic waves
(or light waves).
Types of Interference of light:
(I) Constructive Interference

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→ When crest of one wave falls on
crest of other wave (or trough of one
wave falls on trough of other wave)
constructive interference is said to be
taken place due to superposition.

→𝑦 =𝑦 +𝑦
→ Amplitude is maximum

→ Intensity maximum

→ Bright fringe are formed

→ path difference = 𝑛𝜆

Where, n is integer (even)

(II) Destructive interference:

→ When crest of one wave falls on trough
of other wave or vice-versa, Destructive
interference takes plane due to
superposition principle and dark fringes
are seen
→ 𝑦 = 𝑦 + (−𝑦 ) = 0
→ resultant amplitude is minimum

Intensity minimum

→ Dark fringes are formed

→ path difference = (2𝑛 + 1)

(odd)

Conditions for sustained (Permanent) Interference of light:

→ The interference patterns in which the positions of maxima and minima of intensity of light
remain fixed, all along on the screen, is called sustained or permanent interference pattern.
Some important conditions for obtaining sustained interference.
(I) Two sources of light must be coherent, amplitude should be equal, monochromatic, sources
very close to each other.
(II) Two sources should be point sources or very narrow sources.
(III) Same phase or maintain constant phase difference with time.
(IV) The interference beams should be of same wave length and frequency.

Young's Double slit experiment [Expression of fringe width (𝜷)]

(2057, 2062, 2066, 2067, 2067, 2068, 2069, 2070, 2071, 2072, 2073, 2074)
1) Derive the fringe width for young's double slit experiment Or,
Describe Young's double slits experiment for the interface of light and show that width of bright
and dark fringes are the same. Or,
Prove analytically that bright fringes and dark fringes in Young's double slit experiment are
equally spaced.

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→ Young, in 1801, demonstrated the interference of light by a simple experiment with double
slits, then alternate bright and dark bands appear on the screen.
Let us consider S be the monochromatic source of light. Let 𝑆 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆 be the two coherent
sources separated by a small distance 'd' which are kept at a distance 'D' from the screen XY.
Point 'M' lies midway between 𝑆 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆 and MO is the normal from M into the screen. The point
'O' is at equidistant from 𝑆 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆 . Since the wave from 𝑆 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆 arrives at O in the same phase
and path difference between two waves is zero, the point 'O' will be the centre of a bright fringe.
Let P be any point at distance Xn from 'O' on the screen can be calculated by finding path
difference.

Fig (I) Young's Double slit experiment

Here, 𝑆 𝑁 ⊥ on 𝑆 𝑃
Path difference between 𝑆 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆 at P = 𝑆 𝑃 − 𝑆 𝑃 = 𝑆 𝑁
Also, ∠𝑆 𝑆 𝑁 = 𝜃 = ∠𝑃𝑀𝑂 (∴ 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒)
Now, From ∆𝑆 𝑆 𝑁,
sin 𝜃 = = …….. (1)
Also from ∆𝑃𝑀𝑂,
tan 𝜃 = = ………(2)
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝜃 is very small angle so tan 𝜃 ≅ 𝜃 ≅ sin 𝜃. Then from (1) and (2);
=
∴𝑆 𝑁= i.e. path difference (𝑆 𝑁) = , …………….(3)
For P to lie at the centre of bright fringe,
Path difference = 𝑛𝜆 ………..(4) for bright fringe (constructive interference)
Where n = 0,1,2,3
∴ from (3) and (4)
𝑛𝜆 = Or, 𝑥 = ………(5)
Here,
For n = 0, 𝑥 = 0; central bright fringe
For n = 1, 𝑥 = ; 1st bright fringe
For n = 2, 𝑥 = ; 2nd bright fringe
For n = 3, 𝑥 = ; 3rd bright fringe

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If Q is neighbouring bright fringe i.e. (𝑛 + 1)𝑡ℎ bright fringe.
( )
Then, OQ = 𝑥 = (6)
So, the distance between two successive bright fringes called fringe width.
i.e. fringe width (𝛽) = OQ-OP = 𝑥 − 𝑥 = (n+1) − 𝑛
∴𝛽= ….(7) for bright fringe (Constructive interference)
For P to lie at the centre of dark fringe (Destructive interference)
Path difference = (2n+1) , ………..(8) where n = 1,2,3,4
Now, from (3) and (8) ; (2n+1) =
∴ 𝑥 = (2𝑛 + 1) … … … … … (9); nth dark Fringe
𝑛 = 1; 𝑥 = …………….. 1st dark fringe
𝑛 = 2; 𝑥 = …………….. 2nd dark fringe
The distance between two successive dark fringe is called fringe width.
i.e. 𝛽 = …………..(10) for dark fringe (destructive interference)
Thus, from equation (7) and (10), it is seen that, both dark fringe and bright fringes are of equal
width. So, 𝛽 =𝛽
Note: 1) Young's double slit experiment can be used to determine the wavelength of
monochromatic light, and fringe width (𝛽).
Note (2) : Fringe width (𝛽)=
a) 𝛽 ∝ 𝜆 → Directly proportional to wavelength of light used
b) 𝛽 ∝ 𝐷 → Directly proportional to distance between screen and coherent sources.
c) 𝛽 ∝ → inversely proportional to distance between two slits.
Note (3): Conclusions from Young's double slit experiment:
a) As expression for 𝛽 is independent of n, all fringes are of same width.
b) For appreciable fringe width, D should be large and d be small.
c) As 𝛽 ∝ 𝜆 , the fringe produce by light of shorter wavelength will be narrower as compared
to those produced by light of longer wavelength.
d) The two slits should be lie very close to each other otherwise width of fringe be different.