DIFFRACTION

Diffraction is the phenomenon of light observed due to superposition of secondary wavelets starting from different
points of a wavefront which is not blocked by an obstacle or which are allowed by an aperture (of size
comparable to the wavelength of light).

Diffraction by Single Slit

Plane wave
front r1 P
A
a/2 r2
∆x θ
O
a/2
B
Slit
Screen

a
1. x  sin 
2
2. For ‘O’ waves from all points in the slit travel about the same distance and are in phase.
a
3. At P, rays r1 and r2 have a phase difference x  sin  .
2
a 
4. When sin 1  , there will be destructive interference.
2 2
 when a sin 1 = , first minima will be formed at P.
5. In general a sin n = n is position of nth minima.


6. Angular position of first minima  n  sin 1 
a

2 
7. Angular spread of central maximum is 21 = if  < < a, otherwise 2 sin 1   .
a a
8. When  > a  sin  > 1 which is not possible
 diffraction can not be observed.


9.  < < a, then sin     (in radians)
a
2D
10. Width of central maximum =
a
D
11. Width of other fringes = .
a

4I 0
12. If I0 is the intensity of central maximum, then intensity of nth maxima is I n 
(2n  1)2 2
 I0 : I1 : I2 : : 1 : 0.045 : 0 : 016.
13. Resolving Power diffraction by a circular aperture or a lens with diameter ‘d’ produces a central maximum

and concentric maxima and minima, with the first minimum at angle  given by sin   1.22 .
d

14. The intensity of fringe goes on decreasing in case of diffraction while it remain same in the interference