Experiment-79 S

DIFFRACTION AT TWO CIRCULAR

APERTURES

Dr 1eethendra Kumar P K
KamalJeeth Instrumentation & Service Unit, No-7, NTI Lavout, RMJ 2

Stage, Bangalore-560 094. INDIA

Email: jeethkjisurediffmail.com

Abstract

Using 25nm laser light diffraction at two circular apertures is observed. 1he
modulated Airy's disc is found to have bright and dark fringes. 1he fringe width
is determined using a light detector and the separation between the circular
apertures is calculated. By closing one of the circular aperture Airy's disc
diameter is measured and the radius of the circular aperture is calculated. 1he
diffraction pattern is recorded. Diffraction and interference factors are also
determined.

Introduction

The nature oI light was one the most conIlicting question during 17-18
th
century. The wave-
particle controversy is now replaced by wave-particle duality. During the 18
th
century, many
scientists believed in particle nature oI light based on corpuscular theory by Newton. However,
bending oI light (diIIraction) was not well understood by corpuscular theory. In this, the evidence
in Iavor oI wave nature was more and nobody dared to believe it. It was Thomas Young a
medical practitioner explained diIIraction assuming wave nature to light. His double slit
diIIraction experiment changed every thing. It gave strong evidence in Iavor oI wave nature.
However, scientists were not ready to accept this Iact. It took another 14 years Ior them to
believe wave nature oI light. Thomas Young`s double slit experiment is now considered as a
milestone in the history oI physics that made the whole concept to change |1,2,3|


Figure-1, Thomas Young`s double slit experimental setup

Instead oI rectangular slit, diIIraction also takes place at a circular aperture. Single circular
aperture diIIraction resulted in Airy`s disc |4| shown in Figure-2 (a). The light passing through
small aperture resulted in bright spot called Airy`s disc. The diIIracted rays emerging Irom the
circular edge results in dark ring around the bright spot. The diIIraction pattern resemble
doughnut as shown in Figure-2(a). Additions oI one more aperture close to the Iirst modiIy the
diIIraction pattern. This modiIied or modulated diIIraction pattern sub divide the central bright
spot oI the Airy`s disc in to number oI convex lens shaped bright Iringes separated by a dark
lines. Figure-2(b) shows the diIIraction pattern due to two identical circular apertures close to
each other.

To observe such diIIraction the circular aperture should be oI the order oI 0.1 to 1mm and their
separation 1 to 2mm, which is less than the beam width oI the laser beam used (2-3mm). The
resulting Iringe width is given by |5|

d
I
y

= .1

Where is the wavelength oI the laser used
d is the separation between two aperture
I is the distance between the aperture and the screen



(a) (b)
Figure-2 (a) Airy`s disc doughnut shaped (b) modulated doughnut due to second circular
aperture

The diameter oI the circular aperature dosent appears in the equation Ior Iringe width. This does
not mean one can have any diameter Ior the aperture. Smaller the aperture sharper is the Iringe.
The intensity oI the diIIracted light is given by |6|

2
2
2
Sin
2
d
Cos
Sin
a
Sin
a
Sin
) ( I |

\
|

= .2

Where a is the diameter oI the circular aperture
d is the separation between the apertures
is the wavelength oI the laser light
0 is angle oI diIIraction

DeIining two new parameters, equation-2 is rewritten as

( ) ( )

=
2
2
Cos
Sin
0 I I .3

Where I(0) is the peak intensity

= Sin
a
is called diIIraction Iactor

= Sin
2
d
is called interIerence Iactor

From equation-3 the modulation nature oI the diIIraction pattern is evident. Figure-3 represents
pictorial process oI diIIraction.




Figure-3, Process of diffraction from two identical circular apertures

The diIIracted light amplitude is proportional to the incident light. The diIIraction Iactor u is the
proportionality constant that attains a minimum value Ior destructive interIerence such that

a
m

= .4

Where m +1, +2, +3 etc. At these points, there will be a dark band in the Iringe system.
Similarly, the interIerence Iactor has maxima at

d
m

= .5

d
a
a is the diameter
oI the apertutre
d is the diatance
between the
apertures
d
Thin copper Ioil
with circular
apertures
a
a
E1
E2
E1 and E2 are the amplitude
oI the diIIracted light rays
I d Sin
Laser light
a is 0.3 to 0.7mm
d is 1-3mm
I
Where m 0, +1, +2, +3 etc. At these points in the diIIraction pattern there will be bright spot.
By closing one the circular aperture, the modulation is lost and the Airy`s disc reappears. The
width oI the Airy`s disc is given by |4|

2R
o
2
I 44 . 2

.6

Where 2p
o
is the width oI Airy`s disc
2R a, is the diameter oI the circular aperture

In this experiments a` and b` are determined by measuring Iringe width and width oI Airy`s
disc.

Apparatus Used

625nm laser, two circular aperture made on a copper Ioil and Iitted to a module, light detector
microscope and relative light intensity meter.

A 12mm dia, 0.5mm thin copper Ioil is taken and two circular apertures are made using 0.4mm
drilling bit. The Ioil is glued to a metallic module that can be Iitted to the laser source. Figure- 4
shows copper Ioiled glued to the circular module. Figure-5(a) shows the laser used in the
experiment and Figure-5(b) shows the module containing two circular apertures Iitted to laser
light.

Figure-4, Copper foil containing two circular apertures glued to a module



(a) (b)
Figure-5, (a) Laser light mounted on heavy base with leveling screws
(b) Circular aperture module fitted to laser light

Light Detector
The light detector used in this experiment consists oI a two motion-traveling microscope Iitted
with LDR light detector. The LDR is energized by a power supply and a digital dc milliammeter
in series with the power supply reads the relative light intensity. Figure-6 (a) shows the light
detecting microscope and Figure- 6 (b) shows the relative light intensity meter.



Figure-6, (a) Light detecting microscope
(b) Relative light intensity meter

Experimental Procedure

The experiment consists oI two parts

Part-A, Diffraction pattern formation at two circular apertures and determination of fringe
width

Part-B, Closing one of the aperture and viewing Airy's disc

Part-A, Diffraction pattern formation at two circular apertures and determination of
fringe width

1. The laser is placed on a table and the level screws are adjusted so that the laser is perIectly
horizontal. The laser light is switched on and the light is allowed to Iall on a wall about 6-
meters Irom the laser.

2. The two circular aperture module is Iitted to the laser such that the two apertures lie along the
X-axis and the module is screwed tightly. Modulated Airy`s disc is observed on the wall as
shown in Figure-2 (b). Distinct dark and bright Iringes are observed.

Figure-7, Diffraction pattern focused on to the center of the light detector
3. The light-detecting microscope is now placed at the place where modulated Airy`s disc is
observed on the wall. The microscope adjustment is done so that diIIraction pattern is
Iocused on the light detector. Figure-7 shows modulated Airy`s disc on the light detector.

4. The microscope is now moved on the X-axis so that the diIIraction pattern is on the leIt side
on the light detector as shown in Figure-8. The position oI the microscope is read on the
horizontal scale. The relative light intensity meter is now connected to the light detector and
the relative intensity is noted in Table-1.


Figure-8, Diffraction pattern on left side of the light detector

5. The microscope is moved to the right by 0.5mm and the corresponding intensity is noted in
Table-1. Movement oI the microscope is continued in steps oI 0.5mm noting corresponding
light intensity. This is continued until the light detector scans entire width oI the diIIraction
pattern.

Figure-9, Diffraction pattern on the right side of the light detector

Table-1
Distance
(cm)
Relative
Intensity
(A)
Distance
(cm)
Relative
Intensity
(A)
Distance
(cm)
Relative
Intensity
(A)
Distance
(cm)
Relative
Intensity
(A)
2.40 0.7 2.85 4.7 3.30 13.4 3.75 6.2
2.45 0.9 2.90 6.8 3.35 11.9 3.80 5.4
2.50 1.4 2.95 8.9 3.40 9.7 3.85 5.2
2.55 1.7 3.00 9.7 3.45 9.0 3.90 5.0
2.60 2.8 3.05 8.9 3.50 9.7 3.95 4.5
2.65 3.2 3.10 7.8 3.55 10.8 4.00 3.3
2.70 3.5 3.15 8.6 3.60 11.1 4.05 2.6
2.75 3.3 3.20 11.2 3.65 10.1 4.10 1.8
2.80 3.5 3.25 13.1 3.70 8.0 4.15 1.3

Relative light intensity variations in the diffracted pattern due to two circular apertures

6. Microscope movement is stopped once the light detector scans Iull width oI the diIIraction
pattern and now the pattern is on the right side oI the light detector as shown in Figure-9.



Figure-10, Intensity variations in the diffraction pattern due to two circular apertures

7. A graph is drawn taking distance on X-axis and relative light intensity on the Y-axis as
shown in Figure-10. From the graph the reading corresponding to three distinct peaks are
noted.

Peak-1 is at 3.00cm, Peak 2 is at 3.30cm and Peak-3 is at 3.60 cm
The distance between any two consecutive peaks is the Iringe width

d
I
y

= 0.3cm3mm3x10
-3
m

8. The exact distance between the source and the light detecting microscope is measured using a
meter scale

I 6m

9. The distance between two aperture is calculated using equation-1

mm 25 . 1 m 00125 . 0
10 x 3
6 x 10 x 625
y
I
d
3
9
= = =

This is the distance between two tiny apertures in the module.

Part-B, Closing one of the aperture and viewing Airy`s disc

10.Without disturbing the position oI the microscope and laser, one oI the two apertures is
closed using a small piece oI insulation tape. Now there is only one aperture hence diIIraction
pattern due single aperture is observed as shown in Figure-2 (a).

0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5
R
e
l
a
t
i
v
e

I
n
t
e
n
s
i
t
y

(
u
A
)
Distance (cm)
11.The light detector is now Iocused to Airy`s disc and the intensity scan is perIormed. The
position oI the microscope is changed in steps oI 0.5mm and the corresponding light intensity
is recorded in Table-2. This is done until light detector scans the Iull diIIraction pattern. A
graph is drawn taking distance along X-axis and relative light intensity on Y-axis as shown in
Figure-11. From the Iigure width oI the Airy`s disc corresponding to minimum intensity is
noted

Width oI Airy`s disc 5.15-3.50 1.65cm 16.5mm 16.5x10
-3
m

Diameter oI the circular aperture is calculated |4| using equation

a mm 5545 . 0 m 0005545 . 0
10 x 5 . 16
6 x 10 x 625 x 44 . 2
2
I 44 . 2
R 2
3
9
o
= = =

Table-2
Distance
(cm)
Relative
Intensity
(A)
Distance
(cm)
Relative
Intensity
(A)
Distance
(cm)
Relative
Intensity
(A)
Distance
(cm)
Relative
Intensity
(A)
3.40 0.9 3.85 6.0 4.30 10.6 4.75 6.1
3.45 1.1 3.90 6.8 4.35 10.5 4.80 5.5
3.50 1.4 3.95 7.5 4.40 10.2 4.85 4.6
3.55 1.9 4.00 8.0 4.45 9.8 4.90 3.9
3.60 2.4 4.05 8.9 4.50 9.4 4.95 3.3
3.65 2.9 4.10 9.5 4.55 9.0 5.00 2.7
3.70 3.7 4.15 9.8 4.60 8.3 5.05 2.2
3.75 4.4 4.20 10.3 4.65 7.7 5.10 1.7
3.80 5.3 4.25 10.5 4.70 6.9 5.15 1.3
Relative light intensity variation in the Airy's disc



Figure-11, Relative light intensity variations in the Airy`s disc

DiIIraction Iactor will be maxima Ior m +1, +2, +3 etc
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5
R
e
l
a
t
i
v
e

I
n
t
e
n
s
i
t
y

(
u
A
)
Distance (cm)
etc 0033 . 0 , 0022 . 0 0011 . 0
10 x 5545 . 0
10 x 625
R 2
10 x 625 x 1
a
m
3
9 9
=

The interIerence Iactor is a maxima Ior m0,+1,+2 etc which gives 0 and

etc 0015 . 0 , 001 . 0 , 0005 . 0
00125 . 0
10 x 625
d
m
9
=

=



Results

The results obtained are tabulated in Table-3

Table-3
Parameters Value
Circular aperture diameter (2R) 0.554mm
Distance between two circular apertures (d) 1.25mm
InterIerence Iactor maxima () 0, +0.0005, +0.001
DiIIraction Iactor minima (u) +0.0011, +0.0022
Experimental Results
Discussions

The light intensity distribution oI the diIIraction pattern consists oI sine and cosine terms as
shown in equation-3. The cosine term (cos
2
) represents the carrier light wave and the sine term
2
sin

represents the modulating light. The Irequency oI the carrier is higher because oI d~a
(1.25mm~0.554). The modulating light is the Airy`s disc. The resulting amplitude modulated
light is shown in Figure-12. Such modulated electrical signals can be observed on CRO. In the
case oI light wave, it is recorded using light detector and it is visible to naked eye.




Figure-12, Carrier, modulating and modulated light waveforms
Cos
2

2
sin

I(0)
O(radian)
Carrier wave
Modulating signal
Modulated signal
References

|1| M Shamos, Great Experiments in Physics, Dover publication Inc. New York, 1987.

|2| http://www.Ian.edu/~jordanrg/bios/young/youngbio.htm

|3| http://www Physics.yorku.ca/undergradprogramme/highsch/Twoslit.html

|4| Jeethendra Kumar P K, FraunhoIer diIIraction at circular aperture, LE Vol-3, No-4, Dec-
2004, Page-284

|5| R S Sirohi, A course oI experiments with He-Neon Laser, Page-44.

|6| http:/www.physics.northwestern.edu/Lab/diIIraction