Interference 41

1 1
Bandwidth, Dg = = -10 = 1010 Hz
Dt 10
l 2 av (6.328 ¥ 10-7 )2 ¥ 1010
Line-width, Dl = Dg =
C 3 ¥ 108
= 1.335 ¥ 10–11 m
= 0.1335 Å

E xamplE 9 For a red cadmium line of wavelength 6438 Å and coherence length 38 cm deduce the order of
magnitude of (a) coherence time and (b) spectral width of the line.
Solution Given coherence length, DL = 0.38 m and lav = 6.43 8 ¥ 107 m
Coherence time Dt = ?
Spectral line width Dl = ?
DL
DL = c D t or Dt =
c
0.38
Dt = = 1.266 ¥ 10-9 sec
3 ¥ 108
2
lav l2 (6.438 ¥ 10-7 ) 2
or DL = or Dl = av =
Dl DL 0.38
Dl = 1.09 ¥ 10–12 m
E xamplE 10 The ratio of intensities of two waves that produce interference pattern is 16:1. Deduce the ratio
of maximum to minimum intensities in fringe system.
Solution Given I1 : I2 = 16 : 1
The intensity, I µ a2
\ a12 : a22 = 16 : 1 or a1 : a2 = 4 : 1
or a1 = 4a2
I max (a1 + a2 ) 2 (4a2 + a2 ) 2 25
= = =
I min (a1 - a2 ) 2 (4a2 - a2 ) 2 9

i.e., Imax : Imin = 25:9

E xamplE 11 Two waves of same frequency with amplitudes 1.0 and 2.0 units, interfere at a point, where the
phase difference is 60°. What is the resultant amplitude?
Solution Given a1 = 1.0 unit, a2 = 2.0 unit and f = 60°
the resultant amplitude

R = a12 + a22 + 2a1a2 cos f

= 1+ 4 + 2 = 7
= 2.65 units
E xamplE 12 Distance between two slits is 0.1 mm and the width of the fringes formed on the screen is 5 mm.
If the distance between the screen and the slit is one meter, what would be the wavelength of light used?