Diffraction of light

Determination of wavelength light radiation

using the diffraction system

1. The purpose of the experiment

1.A. Qualitative purpose: highlighting the diffraction phenomenon suffered by
a beam
of light passing through a diffraction system.
1.B. Quantitative purpose:the experimentally determination of wavelength of
the illuminating radiation.
2. Theory paper
Diffraction: a complex phenomenon, the composing coherent radiation from
several sources in space. Essentially, it represents all the phenomena which
are due to the wave nature of light,phenomena of which propagation occurs
in an environment heterogeneous with very pronounced characteristics. In
other words,the diffraction phenomenon consists apparently in the detour of
small sized obstacles of the light, or, in other words, in deviations from the
laws of geometrical optics.
Diffraction system: a system of parallel slits, equal and fair.
Slot: a transparent portion for light, rectangular, with a width much smaller
than the length (l << L) (Fig. 1).The
direction along which is noticeable
the diffraction phenomenon is only
one, namely Ox; For this reason, the
network is a unidimensional one.
Step (period) of the network:the
distance between two successive
slots:
a= l + b, where b is the size of the
opaque portion, made also along
the Ox direction.

If on a diffraction system is incident a monochromatic wave, a complex

phenomenon occurs: the diffraction of light produced by each slot and the
interference of light from all slots. At a sufficient distance, one can see an
image characterized by a succeeding between maximum and minimum.

Diffracted light intensity is given by the following relation:

where:
I0 is the intensity of incident light, is the angle under which is observed the
diffracted light,related to
the normal of the the
network (Fig. 2), N is the
total number of slots of the
network, k is the wave
number, k=2/,the
wavelength being .
The order of a maximum is
the number of order of that
maximum, taking in
account that the maximum
of zero order is formed on
the axis of symmetry.
Basic relationship. Starting from equation (2) it can be shown (see Appendix)
that if the angular position of a n order maximum is n, then the following
relationship takes place:

which is the basic relation to the lab for the experimental determination of
wavelength when measuring angular positions of the maximum observed, if
the network is known constant.
3. Description of the experimental system
The experimental device comprises a goniometer equipped with a collimator
C and a rear L (Fig. 3). In the goniometers center, on a small round table is
fixed the diffraction network R .
The light source is a mercury lamp, or a light bulb; in the latter case, in the
collimator is fixed a monochromatic filter. Light enters in the collimator
through a slot-shaped F,rectangular, vertical, parallel with the slots network.
The observation is carried out in the focal plane of the telescope, where the
main maximums appear on the shape of some lightened lines.

4. The working
a. Study the graduated circle and vernier V in order to determine the
accuracy of the goniometer and the angle reading.
b. Verify that the network is arranged perpendicular to the beam exiting from
the collimator. Adjust the gap so that the
maximum observed to be vertical and as
narrow; image quality is achieved by moving
the telescope eyepiece L.
If of the light source transmits several spectral
lines (radiation Monochromatic), as in the case
of lamp mercury, the maximum of the most
intense zero-order, is the color white; higher

order peaks (n = 1,2,3, ...), for each color, are arranged symmetrically with
respect to the maximum zero order, as in Fig.4.
c. The measurement of the angle n is done by reading the coordinates of
the angle maximum in the same order in both the right and the left of the
central peak (for zero order). The bezel rotates to the right central peak and
sits his thread reticular the center n-line (to the central maximum) of a
certain color, and therefore a specific wavelength and notes with nd the
goniometer disk d indication of the lunette; then moves to the left rear
window symmetrical line, which is the maximum of the same order n of the
same

wavelength (same color), and note indication

landmark

with

The difference is twice the value of the angle.

d. The results are put in the following table:

Check that the wavelength experimental enteritis are indeed in the observed
spectral range!
e. Since the angles read by each member of the subgroup is an operation
that can introduce errors, the procedure requires a phase of estimation. For
this purpose, each sub-group members will choose in the second stage of the
experiment, a particular spectral line corresponding to the diffraction order 2,
spectral line which will make ten readings of angles. Thus, each student will
complete Table 2 (with personal values)

 For spectral line for which you made the ten determinations, calculate
both the value and the average wavelength and standard error (mean square
error):

Wavelength determination result will be given the form of the confidence

interval :