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Appreciable if the wavelength of the light is greater than or equal to the size
of the aperture.
Intensity
n = -2
slit of width a
n = -1
n = +1
n = +2
P
11.3.2 Derive the formula =/b for the position of the first minimum of the diffraction
pattern produced at a single slit.
Fraunhofer diffraction (light source and screen are an infinite distance from
the slits).
1
b
2
d
P
D
Slit width such that light from one edge of the slit reaches point P one
wavelength ahead of light from the other edge of the slit
Light from the top of the slit is out of phase from the light arriving from the
middle of the slit; continues down the length of the slit
Destructive interference results at P
Actual width of the first maximum (position of the first minimum) along the
screen can be calculated if D is known using d = D / b
11.4 Resolution
11.4.1 Sketch the variation with angle of diffraction of the relative intensity of light
emitted by two point sources that has been diffracted at a single slit.
Light from a distant star will diffract around the circular aperture of the lens
producing an image surrounded by diffraction rings.
Two distant objects that are very close together will produce diffraction
patterns that will merge with each other making it difficult to distinguish the
pattern as belonging to two separate objects.
The degree of overlap depends upon the width of our pupil, the wavelength
of light, and the angular separation of the two point sources
In order to separate two light waves of nearly equal wavelength, the maxima
must not overlap too much; the maximum separation was established by Lord
Rayleigh (1842-1919)
Intensity
Intensity
I1
I2
I1 + I2
sin
11.4.2 State the Rayleigh criterion for images of two sources to be just resolved.
Two adjacent maxima can just be resolved if their intensities are each half
their respective peak values at the point where the overlap is greatest.
11.4.3 Describe the significance of resolution in the development of devices such as CDs
and DVDs, the electron microscope and radio telescopes.
sin