Unit 2: Diffraction

Diffraction-Fraunhofer Diffraction, Single and Double slits,

Diffraction Grating, Grating Spectrum, Determination of
Wavelength.
Applications: Impact on resolution of telescope and
microscope, X-ray, electron, and neutron diffraction,
spectroscopy, Coherent diffraction imaging (CDI)
 Unit 2: Diffraction

Introduction:

Fig: A plane wave incident on the slit will from a sharp shadow in region PQ

Difference between interference and diffraction

Interference:
 Superposition is due to two separate wave fronts originating from two coherent sources.
 The fringes normally have equal widths.
 All the bright fringes have the same intensity
 All the dark fringes have zero intensity.
Diffraction:
 Superposition is due to two secondary wavelets originating from different parts of the wave front.
 The width between fringes is never equal.
 The intensity of bright fringes usually decrease with increase of order.
 The intensity of dark fringes is not zero.
The diffraction phenomena are usually divided into two categories:

Fresnel diffraction: The source of light and the screen are, in general, at a finite distance
from the diffracting aperture

Fraunhofer diffraction: The source and the screen are at infinite distances from the
aperture; this is easily achieved by placing the source on the focal plane of a convex
lens and placing the screen on the focal plane of another convex lens
Differences between Fresnel and Fraunhofer Diffraction
Fresnel Diffraction:
 Either a point source or an illuminated narrow slit is used.
 The wavefront undergoing diffraction is either spherical or
cylindrical.
 The source and the screen are finite distances from the obstacle
producing diffraction.
 No lens is used to focus the rays.
Fraunhofer Diffraction:
 Extended source at infinite distance is used.
 The wavefront undergoing diffraction is a plane wavefront.
 The source and the screen are at infinite distances from the obstacle
producing diffraction.
 Converging lens is used to focus parallel rays.
Fraunhofer diffraction at a single slit

Analysis:

The path difference between the wavelets from A and B in the direction θ is

BK = AB sinθ = e sin θ
The corresponding phase difference = e sin θ

d=
Hence, the resultant amplitude at P will be
R= =
Let = α, then

R= = since is very small

As n infinite, a

Let na = A, then

R=

Therefore, resultant intensity at P is

I = R2 = ----------------------- (1)
Directions of Maxima and Minima:
It is clear from Eq. (1) that for intensity to be maximum, the value of ( ) should also be maxima.
Here, = 1

= 0 corresponds to maxima

or =0

or = 0

or = 0

i.e., in the same direction as that of the incident light. It is clear from Eq.(1) that intensity is minimum when
= 0 (but ≠ 0)
Or = ± mπ m ≠ 0
m = 1,2,3,….
= ± mπ
= ± mπ
 Practise Problem

A light of wavelength 6000 Å falls on a straight slit of width 0.10 mm.

Calculate the total angular width of central maximum and also the
linear width as observed on a screen placed 1 m away.
Sol: The condition for central maximum is
= λ
where θ is the angular half width.
Given λ = 6000 Å, = 6 x 10-5 cm, and e = 0.01 cm.
= 6 x 10-3
Since is very small, ̴ . Therefore,
= 6 x 10-3 rad
The angular width of the central maximum is = 2
= 2 x 6 x 10-3
= 1.2 x 10-2 rad
Let y be the linear half width of central maximum on the screen placed at a distance d = 1.0 m = 100 cm.
Y= d
= 100 x 6 x 10-3
= 0.6 cm
Therefore, the linear width of the central maximum on the screen = 2Y
= 2 x 0.6 = 1.2 cm
Fraunhofer diffraction due to double slit

From the theory of diffraction at a single slit, the resultant amplitude

due to wavelets diffracted from each slit in a direction θ is
R=
where A is a constant and =
The path difference between the wavelets from S1 and S2 in the direction θ is

S2K = (e + d) sinθ

Hence, the corresponding phase difference

δ = (e + d) sinθ

The resultant amplitude at P can be determined by

A2 = a21 = a22 + 2 a1 a2 cos δ

I = R2 = 4A2 cos2β

The minima are obtained in the directions is given by

sin α = 0

α = ± mπ
= ± mπ = e sinθ = ± mπ m = 1,2,3,…. (but not zero).