Diffraction grating

1. Introduction and theory. Diffraction Grating is optical device used to learn the different wavelengths or colors contained in a beam of light. The device usually consists of thousands of narrow, closely spaced parallel slits (or grooves). Because of interference the intensity of the light getting pass through the slits depends upon the direction of the light propagation. There are selected directions at which the light waves from the different slits interfere in phase and in these directions the maximums of the light intensity are observed. These selected directions depend upon wavelength, and so the light beams with different wavelength will propagate in different directions. The condition for maximum intensity is the same as that for the double slit or multiple slits, but with a large number of slits the intensity maximum is very sharp and narrow, providing the high resolution for spectroscopic applications. The peak intensities are also higher and depend proportionally to the second power of amount of the slits illuminated.

In the beginning let us consider the diffraction from double slit, which consists of two parallel slits illuminated by a flat monochromatic wave. Calculations show that the intensity of the light getting pass through the slits will depend upon the angle between the direction of the light propagation and the perpendicular to screen:

where I0 is the intensity of the light in the center of diffraction pattern when only one slit is opened, b is the width of the slit, d is the distance between the slits, k=2 / is the wave factor, is the wavelength, is the difference of the optical lengths of the interfering rays (in the case, for example, when the wave is incident not perpendicularly to the screen or one slit is covered by glass). The first multiplier of the equation in the square brackets describes the Fraunhofer diffraction on one slit and the second multiplier describes the interference from two point sources. The total energy of the light getting through the slit is proportional to b, while the width of the diffraction pattern is proportional to 1/b. For this reason the intensity of the light I0 in the center of diffraction pattern will be proportional to b2. In the limits of the first diffraction maximum we can see N interference fringes, where N=2d/b.

This figure shows the dependence of the light intensity on the angle in the case of diffraction on one slit (red curve) and for two slits diffraction (blue curve). We can see in this figure that the maximal intensities of the interference fringes follow the curve for diffraction on one slit. Talking about "Fraunhofer" diffraction we mean the far-field diffraction, i.e. when the point of observation is far enough from the screen with the slits. Quantitatively the criteria of the Fraunhofer diffraction is described by the formula: z >> d2/ where z is the distance from the screen with the slits to the point of observation. In the close proximity to the screen with the slits the diffraction pattern will be described by the Fresnel's equations

Next, we shall consider the diffraction grating, which consists of N parallel slits. In this case the light waves from every slit will interfere each other producing the interference fringes as shown in figure. Because of diffraction the distribution of the light intensity behind of every slit will not be isotropic (see figure for diffraction at one slit). For diffraction gratings both these effects take place, so the resultant intensity of the light on the screen is described by the equation:

The first multiplier of the equation describes the Fraunhofer diffraction on one slit and the second multiplier describes the interference from N point sources. It is seen from the figure that d? sin is the path length difference between the rays emitted by the slits. If it is equal to the integer number, then the oscillations will interfere in phase magnifying each other. Therefore, we can write the equation for the main maximums of interference pattern: d? sin = m, where m = 0, 1, 2,? This animation shows the experiment when the width b of the silts is varied, while the distance d between them is constant. We can see in the figure that for the narrower slits the diffraction pattern is wider and the visibility is lower. The frequency of the interferometric fringes is the same. This animation shows the experiment when the width b of the silts is constant (1000 nm) and the distance d between them is varied in the range 1000-10000 nm. Wavelength is 600 nm. The frequency of the interferometric fringes is increasing proportionally to the distance d between the slits, while the width of the diffraction pattern is the same and depends only on b. This animation shows the Fraunhofer Diffraction on one slit. The width b of the silts is varied in the range 500-1500 nm, wavelength equal to 600 nm.

2. Set of diffraction gratings DG-10. We produce the set of diffraction gratings DG-10 and can send it to you by mail. Specifications are given below. You can order diffraction grating DG-10 using KAGI online payment processing system.

The gratings in rows 1, 3, 4 are vertical strips marked as d/b, where d is period of the grating in pixels, b is the width of the transparent strips. The gratings in row 2 are superposition of vertical and horizontal strips. Row 5 consists the single slits and rows 6 and 7 consist of double slits. Row 1: the width of the white (transparent) strips is equal to the width of the black strips (d = 2b). Row 2: the width of the white squares is equal to the width of the black one (d = 2b). Row 3: the width of the white strips b is constant and equal to 1 pixel, while the period of grating d is varying from 2 to 10 pixels. Row 4: the period of the grating d is constant and equal to 10 pixel, while the width of the white strips b is varying from 1 to 5 pixels. Row 5: one vertical slit of width varying from 80 to 5 pixels. Row 6: the couples of vertical slits marked as 2 x b, where b is the width of every slit in pixels. The separation between the slits is constant and equal 50 pixels. Row 7: the couples of vertical slits marked as b, where b is the separation between the couples of slits in pixels. For this row the width of every slit is constant and equal 10 pixels.

The vertical axis is normalized to the intensity of the light at the center of the screen. Actually, for the single and double slit experiments the intensity of the light on the screen depends proportionally to the second power of the width of the slit. So, particularly, for the slits of 5 pixels wide the intensity on the screen will be 16 times less than for the slits of 20 pixels wide. For multislit gratings the intensity of the light on the screen will be N2 times bigger as compared to one slit (where N is number of illuminated slits) and it also depends proportionally to second power of the width of every slit. Technical specifications: Dimensions: 148 x 95 mm (every grating 10 x 10 mm) Material: transparent film of 110 microns thick Resolution: 4000 dpi (1 pixel = 1/4000 inch = 6,35 microns) Click on the appropriate diffraction grating to see the graph for the intensity of the light on the screen.

Gratings in the Row 1 consist of alternating transparent and black strips of equal width. Illuminating these gratings by laser light we can see the diffraction pattern on the screen behind of them. We see that all gratings in row 1 produce the same amount of the interferometric fringes. This occurs because the total width of diffraction pattern depends upon the width of every slit as 1/b and the frequency of interferometric fringes depend proportionally the period of grating d. For all gratings in row 1 d/b=2, so we can see the same amount of fringes. Gratings in Row 2 are superposition of vertical and horizontal strips. We can see two-dimensional diffraction pattern in this case. The width of all slits in Row 3 is equal to 1 pixel, while the period of these gratings is varying from 2 to 10 pixels (1 pixel = 1/4000 inch in our case). In this case the total width of diffraction pattern is constant, while the frequency of interferometric fringes is different. The intensity of the diffraction fringes at screen behind the grating 10/1 is rather small because of small width of slits in this grating. For Row 4 the period of all gratings is the same and equal to 10 pixel, while the widths of the slits are different and equal to 1 - 5 pixels. We can see in experiment that the frequency of interference fringes is the same for all gratings in this row, but the total widths of diffraction pattern are different. In Row 5 there are vertical single slits. The widths of these slits are different and equal to 5 - 80 pixels. For 5 pixel slit the width of diffraction pattern is maximal, but the intensity on the screen is minimal because only the small part of optical radiation incident on the slit can pass through it. In Row 6 and 7 there are double slits, which consists of two closely situated slits. In Row 6 the separation between the slits is constant and equals 50 pixels, while the widths of these slits are different. For Row 7 the width of every slit is constant and equals 10 pixels, but the distances between them are different and equal to 20-40 pixels. The diffraction pattern for double slit is about the same as for one slit with the same width, but in case of double slit we can see the appearance of interferometric fringes. The period of these fringes depends upon the distance between the slits. The diffraction can be observed more easily if you: Observe the diffraction pattern in the dark room. Use the fresh batteries for the laser pointer. Place the grating not closer than for 1 meter from the screen.

3. Spectrum analysis using diffraction grating. In the next experiment we shall explore the light which consists of the waves of different frequencies. In this case the angle of diffraction depends on wavelength of the light and hence instead of single interferometric lines the spectrums will appear in different orders. This property of diffraction grating can be used for investigation of the spectrums of the light of different optical sources.

In the figure above we can see the classical experimental setup for observation of Frounghofer diffraction. We used luminescent lamp B and diffraction grating GD. Light

of lamp B passes through a narrow slot situated in the focus of the lens L1. As a result the parallel beam of the light is formed behind of the lens. Then this light is incident on a transmitting diffraction grating DG. Because of interference the flat waves with different wavelengths appears at the output of diffraction grating. Light with the wavelength will propagate in the direction in accordance with the equation dsin = m, where m is the positive integer, which has a sense of the spectrum order. m is equal to difference of the optical paths of the light from two adjacent slits related to the wavelength. So, in the first order the optical path difference equals . The light expanded in a spectrum is incident then to lens L2, which focus it to screen S. In the centre of the screen we can see the white line, which corresponds to image of the slot in zero order of spectrum. Then, up and down of the screen there are colored strips, which correspond a spectral composition of the light. The repeated groups of lines is interference in the first, second, etc. orders. Quality of the grating is defined by the resolution: R=/=mN, where is the wavelength, is the minimal difference in wavelengths of the lines, which can be resolved, m is the order of spectrum, N is the number of the slots used for interference (which are inside the light spot).

Spectrum components of the light can be observed even without the lenses. We shall need a photo camera PH and diffraction grating DG. Let us focus the camera on the remote slit illuminated by lamp B as shown in the figure above and put the diffraction grating in front of objective of the camera. One white line and many color lines will appear on the matrix of the camera (or on photo-film), which correspond to spectral components of the lamp radiation. The spectrums repeat in higher orders, but do not overlap each other. We analyzed the spectrum of the luminescent day-light lamp. Spectrum consists of many separate lines (you can see a photo below). We easily distinguish two green lines, which differ by the wavelength at about 4 nm, and see also the set of fine red and blue lines in spectrum. Resolution of such a system was measured to be about 600 in the first order of spectrum. It was limited by the size of the objective which is equal to size of the grating participating in interference.

Let us take a photo of the candle flame through the diffraction grating DG-2/1-4000. We can see that the image is multiplexing. The central image of the flame coincides with the one without the grating while the images in higher orders are dissolved in the spectrums like in rainbow. The spectrum of the candle flame is continuous so we can not see the discrete lines.

We accepts the orders and can send to you by mail the diffraction gratings DG-2/14000 or DG-4/2-4000 of any size. Digit 4000 in the labeling of the grating means that the resolution of the grating is 4000 dpi. 1 pixel = 6.35 microns. Grating consists of alternating black and white (transparent) lines on a thin transparent film. Period of the grating is 2 or 4 pixels, the width of the line is 1 or 2 pixels. This corresponds to 2/1 and 4/2 in the labeling of the grating. The price for 1 sq.inch of grating is $5. Minimal order is $20. Contact us to order this diffraction grating.

In a standard pressed vinyl record when viewed from a low angle perpendicular to the grooves, a similar but less defined effect to that in a CD/DVD is seen. This is due to viewing angle (less than the critical angle of reflection of the black vinyl) and the path of the light being reflected due to this being changed by the grooves, leaving a rainbow relief pattern behind. A standard benchmark for the resolvance of a grating or other spectroscopic instrument is the resolution of the sodium doublet. The two sodium "D-lines" are at 589.00 nm and 589.59 nm. Resolving them corresponds to resolvance

Another standard example is the resolution of the hydrogen and deuterium lines, often done with a Fabry-Perot Interferometer. The red lines of hydrogen and deuterium are at 656.3 nm and 656.1 nm, respectively. This requires a resolvance of

Natural gratings
Striated muscle is the most commonly found natural diffraction grating[2] and, indeed, this has helped physiologists in determining the structure of such muscle. Aside from this, diffraction gratings are rarely present in nature. Most commonly confused with diffraction gratings are the iridescent colors of peacock feathers, mother-of-pearl, and butterfly wings. Iridescence is common in birds, fishes, insects, and some flowers, and is almost always caused by thin-film interference rather than diffraction.[3] Diffraction will produce the entire spectrum of colors as the viewing angle changes, whereas thin-film interference usually produces a much narrower range.[4] The cell structures in plants and animals are usually too irregular to produce the fine slit geometry necessary for a diffraction grating.[5] However, natural gratings do occur in some invertebrate marine animals, like the antennae of seed shrimp, and have even been discovered in Burgess Shale fossils.[6][7]

Diffraction grating effects are sometimes seen in meteorology. Diffraction coronas are colorful rings surrounding a source of light, such as the sun. These are usually observed much closer to the light source than halos, and are caused by very fine particles, like water droplets, ice crystals, or smoke particles in a hazy sky. When the particles are all nearly the same size they diffract the incoming light at very specific angles. The exact angle depends on the size of the particles. Diffraction coronas are commonly observed around light sources, like candle flames or street lights, in the fog. Cloud iridescence is caused by diffraction, occurring along coronal rings when the particles in the clouds are all uniform in size.[8]