INTERFERENCE

Definition of Interference of Light:

The modification in the distribution of light energy when two or more waves are
superimposed on each other is called interference of light.

(i)

There are two types of interference:

Constructive interference:

Crest

When the crest of one wave falls on the crest of the

other, trough falls on trough, the amplitude of the resultant wave
increases. This is called constructive interference.
(ii)

Destructive interference:

Thrust

When the crest of one wave falls on the trough of the

other and trough on crest, the amplitude of the resultant wave
decreases ( or reduces to zero). This is called Destructive
interference.

Crest

Theory of Interference:

Thrust
Let two wave of the same nature travel in a medium along
the same direction. The displacement of any particle in the medium produced by the two
waves at any instant t are:

Y1 a sin t (1)
Y2 bsin(t ) (2)

Where a and b are amplitudes,

is the phase difference.

The resultant displacement of the

Particle Y when two waves act
simultaneously.
i.e

Y Y1 Y2 (3)

Y a sin t bsin(t )
Y a sin t bsin{sin t cos cos t sin )
Y { a sin t bsin t cos bsin cos t }
Y sin t(a b cos ) bsin cos t (4)
Put (a bcos ) R cos (5)
bsin R sin (6)

Put (5) and (6) in (4)

Y sin t R cos R sin cos t
Y R{sin t cos cos t sin}

Y R sin(t ) (7)
From (7), it is clear that when two waves are super imposed executing SHM, the
resultant wave also executes SHM. Note that period and frequency remains the same as that
of individual waves but the resultant displacement depends on the phase difference .
Squaring and adding (5) and (6)
3

R2 cos2 R2 sin 2 (a bcos )2 (bsin )2

R 2 (1) a 2 b2 cos2 2abcos b2 sin 2
R 2 a 2 b2 2ab cos
Resultant amplitude R a 2 b2 2ab cos (8)

Conditions for Constructive interference Conditions for Destructive interference

Consider equation 8,
Consider equation 8,

R a 2 b2 2ab cos
Here R is maximum only when RHS is
Maximum. RHS becomes maximum
Only when cos takes + 1.
i.e. cos = 1
then = 0,2,4,..(2n)

R a 2 b2 2ab cos
Here R is maximum only when RHS is
minimum. RHS is minimum only when
cos takes 1
i.e. cos = 1 then
= ,3,5,.(2n+1)

R max a 2 b2 2ab(1)

R min a 2 b2 2ab(1)

R max (a b)
If a = b
R max 2a
But intensity of light (amp)2

I (2a)2

R min (a b)
if a = b
R min 0
But I a 2
I0

I 4a 2

Conditions for sustained interference pattern:

To get sustained interference pattern the following conditions are very important
1)
2)
3)
4)

5)

The two sources of light should be monochromatic.

The amplitudes of the two waves must be equal or nearly equal.
The distance between the two coherent sources must be as small as possible.
The two sources should be coherent.
Coherent sources are those which can send light waves of same frequency,
wavelength, amplitude, with zero or constant phase difference (path difference)
Both the interfacing waves should travel in the same direction.

Youngs Double slit experiment:

Young Double Slit

y
E
x
S

S1

S1
S2

A B
S2 B
x

Screen

The phenomenon of interference of waves from two sources of light was first
demonstrated by Thomas Young in 1801. The apparatus used for this experiment is as shown
in figure.
Light from a monochromatic source is incident on a screen X which has a narrow slit
S. The cylindrical waves emerging from it arrive at Y which contains two close, narrow
parallel slits A and B, equidistant from S and parallel to S. Therefore A and B act as
individual sources of light which are in phase since they originate from the same cylindrical
wave front. In other words, A and B behave like coherent sources. The light emerging out of
the slits interfere with each other and produce an interference pattern on the screen placed at a
suitable distance. The interference pattern obtained consists of alternate bright and dark bands
of equal width not only parallel to each other, but also parallel to the slits. They are called
interference fringes or bands. Two waves arriving in phase at a point on the screen interfere
constructively to give bright fringe at that point while two waves arriving out of phase give
dark fringe at that point.

D
Expression for fringe width

A
S1
d
S2

B
d
d

2
2

E
G

Let S1 and S2 be two coherent sources separated by a small distance d. Let these
two coherent sources emit light waves of same wavelength . Let CE be a straight line drawn
to the screen from the mid point of S1 and S2 , C. Two more perpendiculars AB and FG are
drawn to the screen. Let AI be a normal drawn to the line FP from A such that AP = IP. Let P
5

be a point on the screen. At the point P, the intensity is dark or bright depends on the path
difference between the waves reaching the point P from the two sources S1 and S2 . Let D be
the distance of separation between the slit S and the screen.
Wave length of light used =
Distance of separation between S1 and S2 =d
Distance between slits and screen = D
From the geometry of the fig,
Consider a right angled triangle APB,
AP2 AB2 PB2
2

AP D x
2

d2
AP 2 D2 x 2 xd (1)
4
Consider right angled triangle FPG,
FP2 FG 2 PG 2
2

FP D x
2

d2
FP 2 D2 x 2 xd (2)
4
2
Equation (2) (1) gives, (FP AP2 ) 2xd
(FP AP) (FP AP) 2xd
2xd
(3)
(FP AP)
(FP AP)
Since the two sources are very close to each other, we make the following
approximations
FP AP D
2xd
(3) becomes, path difference = (FP AP)
2D
xd
(4)
Path difference FI
D
xd
i.e. Path difference =
D
2

For Bright fringe

xd
n
D
nD
(5)
x
d
D
For n =1, x1
(I Bright)
d
2D
For n=2, x 2
(II Bright)
d

For Dark fringe

xd

(2n 1)
D
2
(2n 1)D
x
(6)
2d
3D
x1
(I Dark)
2d
5D
x2
(II Dark)
2d

Fringe width is defined as the distance between any two consecutive bright or dark
fringes denoted by .
i.e (x 2 x1 )

2D D

d
d

5D 3D

2d
2d
D

(8)
d

(x 2 x1 )

D
(7)
d

From equation (7) and (8), width of a Bright fringe is exactly equal to dark fringe.
Fringe width depends on
wavelength of light increases if increases.
Distance between slit and screen D( D)
1

3)
Distance between two slits
d

4)
Change in the position of the source S does not change , but changes brightness of
fringes.
1)
2)