Lecture notes

on
Diffraction of light
Theory & Practical

Moumita Indra (MI)

What is diffraction?
When light travels in air, it encounters various phenomena like interference, refraction,
reflection and diffraction. When the light comes in contact with an obstacle, diffraction
of light takes place.

When light passes through a small opening, comparable in size to the wavelength λ
of the light, then the light bends around corners.

Types of diffraction:
There are two types of diffraction: Fresnel diffraction and Fraunhofer diffraction.

Fresnel diffraction: If the source of light and screen of light is kept at a finite distance
from obstacle then Fresnel diffraction takes place. In his case, the lens is not used. The
light after diffraction appears to converge towards the screen.

Fraunhofer diffraction: If a source of light and screen are effectively kept at infinite
distance from obstacle then Fraunhofer diffraction takes place. In this case, lenses are
used. Light after diffraction does not appear to converge towards the screen. It can be
observed in the single slit, double slits, etc.
Intensity pattern in single slit experiment:

Sin 2 where,  
a
Sin
I  I0 
2
a is the slit width
 is the angle of diffraction
 is the wavelength of light

I 0  a 2 is the intensity amplitude

 Double
Slit:

Two slits are

separated by
a small
distance
Intensity pattern in double slit experiment:
a a is the slit width
2
Sin  2 where,   Sin b is the opaque space width
I  4I 0 2
Cos  
  ( a  b)  is the angle of diffraction
 Sin  is the wavelength of light

Grating:
Large number of
slits are separated
by small distances.
Intensity pattern in grating:
Sin 2 Sin 2 N N is the number of slits
I  I0 2
. a is the slit width
 Sin 2 
b is the opaque space width
a  is the angle of diffraction
where,   Sin 
  is the wavelength of light
 ( a  b)
 Sin 
 I 0  a 2 is the intensity amplitude
Determination of wavelength of light by using plane diffraction grating: