Interference Fundamentals

INTERFERENCE
Topics
 Two source interference
 Double-slit interference
 Coherence
 Intensity in double slit interference
 Interference from thin film
 Michelson’s Interferometer
Text Book:
PHYSICS VOL 2 by Halliday, Resnick and Krane (5th Edition)
TWO-SOURCE INTERFERENCE
When identical waves from two sources overlap at a

point in space, the combined wave intensity at that
point can be greater or less than the intensity of either
of the two waves. This effect is called interference.
The interference is constructive when the net intensity

is greater than the individual intensities.
The interference is destructive when the net intensity is
less than individual intensities.
DOUBLE-SLIT INTERFERENCE
 Consider two coherent sources S1 and

S2 separated by a distance ‘d’ and kept
at a distance ‘D’ from the screen.
 For D>>d, we can approximate rays r1
and r2 as being parallel.
 Path difference between two waves
from S1 & S2 (separated by a distance
‘d’) on reaching a point P on a screen at
a distance ‘D’ from the sources is S1b =
d sin .
For maximum at point P

S1b = m m = 0, 1, 2, . . .
Which can be written as,
d sin  = m m = 0, 1, 2, . . .
m = 0 is the central maximum.
For minimum at point P
S1b  (m m21 )= 0, 1, 2, . . .
Which can be written as,
d sin   (mm
 21=) 0, 1, 2, . . .
• For small value of , we can make

following approximation.
sin   
y
sin   tan  
D
• Path difference:
y d
d sin   S1b 
D
mth maximum is located at

ym given by
m  ym

d D
or
D
ym  m
d
where m = 0, 1, 2, . . .
Separation between adjacent maxima

(for small ) is independent of m
y  y m1  y m
D D
 (m  1) m
d d
D
y 
d
The spacing between the adjacent
minima is same the spacing between
adjacent maxima.
YOUNG’S DOUBLE SLIT EXPERIMENT
• Double slit experiment was first

performed by Thomas Young in 1801.
• So double slit experiment is known as
Young’s Experiment.
• He used sun light as source for the
experiment.
• In his experiment, he allowed sun light
to pass through narrow opening (S0)
and then through two openings (S1
and S2).
Problem: SP 41-1
The double slit arrangement is illuminated by light of
wavelength 546nm. The slits are 12mm apart and the
screen on which interference pattern appears is 55cm
away.
a) What is the angular position of (i) first minima and (ii)
tenth maxima?
b) What is the separation between two adjacent
maxima?
Problem: E 41-2
Monochromatic light illuminates two parallel slits a

distance d apart The first maximum is observed at
an angular position of 15°. By what percentage
should d be increased or decreased so that the
second maximum will instead be observed at 15° ?
Problem: E 41-5
A double-slit arrangement produces interference

fringes for sodium light (wavelength = 589 nm) that
are 0.23° apart. For what wavelength would the
angular separation be 10% greater ? Assume that the
angle  is small.
Problem: E 41-8
In an interference experiment in a large ripple tank
(see Fig 41-2) the coherent vibrating sources are
placed 120 mm apart. The distance between
maxima 2.0 m away is 180 mm. If the speed of the
ripples is 25 cm/s, calculate the frequency of the
vibrating sources.
Problem: E 41-11
Sketch the interference pattern expected from using two

pin-holes rather than narrow slits.
COHERENCE A SECTION OF INFINITE WAVE
For interference
pattern to occur, the
phase difference at
point on the screen
must not change with A WAVE TRAIN
time. OF FINITE LENGTH L
This is possible only when the two sources are completely

coherent.
If the two sources are completely independent light sources,
no fringes appear on the screen (uniform illumination) . This
is because the two sources are completely incoherent.
A WAVE TRAIN
OF FINITE LENGTH L
Common sources of visible light emit light wave trains of

finite length rather than an infinite wave.
The degree of coherence decreases as the length of wave
train decreases.
Two waves are said to

be coherent when
they are of :
• same amplitude A WAVE TRAIN
OF FINITE LENGTH L
• same frequency
• same phase or are of Laser light is highly coherent whereas

a laboratory monochromatic light
a constant phase
source (sodium vapor lamp) may be
difference partially coherent.
INTENSITY IN DOUBLE SLIT INTERFERENCE
 Electric field components at P due to S1 and S2 are,
E1= E0 sin ωt & E2= E0 sin (ωt + ) respectively.
 Resultant field E = E1 + E2
Resultant of E1= E0 sin ωt & E2= E0 sin (ωt + )
Phasor  Rotating vector.

ADDITION OF TWO VECTORS USING PHASORS
E2 E0 Let two vectors be, E1= E0 sin ωt &
E1
E0 E2= E0 sin (ωt + )
ωt +  Resultant field E = E1 + E2
ωt
Resultant of E1= E0 sin ωt & E2= E0 sin (ωt + )
From phasor diagram,

E0
E = E1 + E2
E2 
= E sin(t + ) E 
= 2E0 cos  sin(t + )

E

But  = /2. So above eqn can be E0
E1
written as, ωt
E = 2 E0 cos(/2) sin(wt+/2)
 E = 2 E0 cos(/2) sin(wt+/2)
 So intensity at an arbitrary point P on the screen due to

interference of two sources having phase difference ;
2  2
I  4 E cos  
0
2
 2
  4  0 cos  
2
where   E2 is intensity due to single source
0 0
PHASE AND PATH DIFFERENCE
Phase difference Path difference


2 
Path difference  corresponds

to phase difference of 2.

2
  4  0 cos  
2
where   E 2 is intensity due to single source
0 0
Since   2dsin/ ,
2  d sin  
  4  0 cos 
 
  
From above equation,
At maxima :   2 m  or d sin   m
At minima :   ( 2 m  1)  or d sin   (m  1 ) 
2
where m  0,  1,  2, . . .
Problem: SP 41-2
Find graphically the resultant E(t) of the following wave

disturbances.
E1 = E0 sin t
E2 = E0 sin (t + 15o)
E3 = E0 sin (t + 30o)
E4 = E0 sin (t + 45o)

Problem: E 41-15
Source A of long-range radio waves leads source B by 90

degrees. The distance rA to a detector is greater than the
distance rB by 100m. What is the phase difference at the

detector?
Both sources have a wavelength of 400m.
Problem: E 41-18
Find the sum of the following quantities (a) graphically,
using phasors; and (b) using trigonometry:
y1 = 10 sin (t)
y2 = 8.0 sin (t + 30°)
INTERFERENCE FROM THIN FILMS
 A film of thickness of the order of a

micron.
 Thickness of the film is comparable
with the wavelength.
 Greater thickness spoils the coherence
A soapy water film on a
of the light to produce colour. vertical loop viewed by
reflected light
The region ac looks bright or dark for an observer depending

on the path difference between the rays r1 and r2.
Phase change on Reflection

It has been observed that if the medium beyond the interface
has a higher index of refraction, the reflected wave undergoes a
phase change of  (=180o).
If the medium beyond the interface has a lower index of
refraction, there is no phase change of the reflected wave.
Phase changes on reflection at a

junction between two strings of
different linear mass densities.
OPTICAL PATH
• Distance traveled by light in a medium in the time interval
of ‘t’ is d = vt
• Refractive index n = c/v
• Hence, ct = nd
• nd  Optical path.
• Optical path is the distance traveled by light in vacuum in
same time ‘t’.
• If n is wavelength in the film of refractive index n and  is
the wavelength in vacuum then n =  / n

Equations for Thin Film Interference:

Normal incidence (i = 0)
Path difference = 2 d + (½) n


BACK SURFACE
Constructive interference:
2 d + (½) n = m n m = 1, 2, 3, . . . (maxima)
Destructive interference:
2 d + (½) n = (m+½) n m = 0, 1, 2, . . . (minima)
WEDGE SHAPED FILM
In wedge – shaped thin film,

constructive interference occurs in
certain part of the film [2 d + (½) n =
m n] and destructive interference in
others [2 d + (½) n = (m+½) n].
Then bands of maximum and

minimum intensity appear, called
fringes of constant thickness.
Problem: SP 41-3
A soap film (n=1.33) in air is 320nm thick. If it is

illuminated with white light at normal incidence, what
color will it appear to be in reflected light?
Problem: SP 41-4
Lenses are often coated with thin films of transparent

substances such as MgF2 (n=1.38) to reduce the
reflection from the glass surface. How thick a coating is
required to produce a minimum reflection at the center
of the visible spectrum? ( wavelength = 550nm)
Problem: E 41-23
A disabled tanker leaks kerosene (n=1.20) into the Persian
Gulf, creating a large slick on top of water (n = 1.33).
(a)If you look straight down from aeroplane on to the region
of slick where thickness is 460nm, for which wavelengths
of visible light is the reflection is greatest?
(b)If you are scuba diving directly under this region of slick,
for which wavelengths of visible light is the transmitted
intensity is strongest?
Problem: E 41-25
If the wavelength of the incident light is λ = 572 nm,

rays A and B in Fig 41-24 are out of phase by
1.50 λ. Find the thickness d of the film.
Problem: E 41-29
A broad source of light (wavelength = 680nm) illuminates

normally two glass plates 120 mm long that touch at one
end and are separated by a wire 0.048mm in diameter at
the other end. How many bright fringes appear over 120
mm distance?
Newton’s rings (sample problem 41-5):
Constructive interference
2d = (m - ½)  (n = 1 for air film)
d  R R2  r 2
1
  r  
2 2
 R  R 1    

 R  
r R  1 using binomial expansion

 1 r 
2
 r2
d  R  R 1     . . . 

 2R  
 2R
Newton’s rings
Substituting d in
2d = (m - ½) 
we get
r  m  21   R
m  1, 2, . . . (maxima)
Problem: E41-33
In a Newton’s ring experiment, the radius of curvature R of

the lens is 5.0m and its diameter is 20mm.
(a) How many ring are produced?
(b) How many rings would be seen if the arrangement is
immersed in water (n = 1.33)?
(Assume wavelength = 589nm)
MICHELSON’S INTERFEROMETER
 Light from an extended monochromatic

source P falls on a half-silvered mirror M.
 The incident beam is divided into reflected
and transmitted beams of equal intensity.
 These two beams travel almost in
perpendicular directions and will be
reflected normally from movable mirror
(M2) and fixed mirror (M1).
 The two beams finally proceed
towards a telescope (T) through
which interference pattern of
circular fringes will be seen.
 The interference occurs because
the two light beams travel
different paths between M and M1
or M2.
 Each beam travels its respective
path twice. When the beams
recombine, their path difference is
2 (d2 – d1)
The path difference can be changed
by moving mirror M2. As M2 is
moved, the circular fringes appear to
grow or shrink depending on the
direction of motion of M2. New rings
appear at the center of the
interference pattern and grow
outward or larger rings collapse
disappear at the center as they
shrink.
For the center of the fringe pattern to
change from bright dark and to bright
again, the path difference between two
beams must change by one
wavelength, which means that mirror
M2 moves through a distance of /2. If
N fringes cross the field of view when
mirror M2 is moved by d, then
d = N (/2)
d is measured by a micrometer
attached to M2. Thus microscopic
length measurements can be made by
this interferometer.
Problem: SP 41-6
Yellow light (wavelength = 589nm) illuminates a Michelson

interferometer. How many bright fringes will be counted as
the mirror is moved through 1.0 cm?
MICHELSON’S INTERFEROMETER Problem: E41-40
An airtight chamber 5.0 cm
long with glass windows is
placed in one arm of a
Michelson’s interferometer as
indicated in Fig 41-28 . Light of
wavelength λ = 500 nm is
used. The air is slowly
evacuated from the chamber
using a vacuum pump. While
the air is being removed, 60
fringes are observed to pass
through the view. From these
data find the index of
refraction of air at atmospheric
pressure.
QUESTIONS – INTERFERENCE

What is the necessary condition on the path length difference
(and phase difference) between two waves that interfere (A)
constructively and (B) destructively ?

Obtain an expression for the fringe-width in the case of
interference of light of wavelength λ, from a double-slit of slit-
separation d.

Explain the term coherence.

Obtain an expression for the intensity of light in double-slit
interference using phasor-diagram.
QUESTIONS – INTERFERENCE
Draw a schematic plot of the intensity of light in a double-slit
interference against phase-difference (and path-difference).

Explain the term reflection phase-shift.

Obtain the equations for thin-film interference.

Explain the interference-pattern in the case of wedge-shaped
thin-films.

Obtain an expression for the radius of mth order bright ring in
the case of Newton’s rings.
Explain Michelson’s interferometer. Explain how microscopic

length measurements are made in this.

Interference Fundamentals

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INTERFERENCE

When identical waves from two sources overlap at a

The interference is constructive when the net intensity

 Consider two coherent sources S1 and

For maximum at point P

• For small value of , we can make

mth maximum is located at

Separation between adjacent maxima

• Double slit experiment was first

Monochromatic light illuminates two parallel slits a

A double-slit arrangement produces interference

Sketch the interference pattern expected from using two

This is possible only when the two sources are completely

Common sources of visible light emit light wave trains of

Two waves are said to

• same phase or are of Laser light is highly coherent whereas

E1= E0 sin ωt & E2= E0 sin (ωt + ) respectively.

Phasor  Rotating vector.

E2 E0 Let two vectors be, E1= E0 sin ωt &

From phasor diagram,

= 2E0 cos  sin(t + )

 So intensity at an arbitrary point P on the screen due to

PHASE AND PATH DIFFERENCE

Phase difference Path difference

Path difference  corresponds

Find graphically the resultant E(t) of the following wave

E2 = E0 sin (t + 15o)

E3 = E0 sin (t + 30o)

E4 = E0 sin (t + 45o)

Source A of long-range radio waves leads source B by 90

distance rB by 100m. What is the phase difference at the

 A film of thickness of the order of a

The region ac looks bright or dark for an observer depending

Phase change on Reflection

Phase changes on reflection at a

• If n is wavelength in the film of refractive index n and  is

the wavelength in vacuum then n =  / n

Equations for Thin Film Interference:

Path difference = 2 d + (½) n

In wedge – shaped thin film,

m n] and destructive interference in

others [2 d + (½) n = (m+½) n].

Then bands of maximum and

A soap film (n=1.33) in air is 320nm thick. If it is

Lenses are often coated with thin films of transparent

If the wavelength of the incident light is λ = 572 nm,

A broad source of light (wavelength = 680nm) illuminates

r R  1 using binomial expansion

In a Newton’s ring experiment, the radius of curvature R of

 Light from an extended monochromatic

Yellow light (wavelength = 589nm) illuminates a Michelson

Explain Michelson’s interferometer. Explain how microscopic

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