Diffraction grating :A diffraction grating is an

optical element which

separates(disperses)polychromatic light into its
constituent wavelengths (colors) and diffracts
light (polychromatic or monochromatic) into
several beams travelling in different directions.
Direction of this beam depend :
1)spacing of the grooves
2)and the wavelength of the light

We need to illustrate diffraction grating by

explain :
hugenes phenomena
Young's interference experiment
Diffraction: phenomena that occur when a
waveencounters an obstacle or a slit. It is
defined as the bending of light around the
corners of an obstacle or aperture
. It can be best explained using principle
known as Huygenss principles

1-each point on the wave front of a propagating wave

can be considered to act as a point source
2-wave front at any subsequent point can be found
by adding together the contributions from each of
these individual point sources.
suppose wave fronts are travelling and hit an obstacles with an opening;
Assume the opening is much smaller than the wavelength of the wave itself
as show in figure
 Young's interference
experiment
I. Young's interference experiment, also
calledYoung's double-slit interferometer
II. performed at the beginning of the nineteenth
century byThomas Young.
III. Thomas Young's sketch of two-slit interference
based on observations of water waves
Experiment 1
Effect of the size of slit on diffraction pattern

Conclusion:
The smaller the size of the slit, the greater the effect of diffraction .
 Experiment 2

Conclusion:
The longer the wavelength, the greater the effect of diffraction.
(Red light has longer wavelength while purple light has shortest
wavelength.)
 Experiment 3
Effect of the distance of the screen from the slit on diffraction
pattern

Conclusion:
The further the screen from the slit, the further the distance between bright bands
formed on the screen.
eqyation1

L:distance from slite to screen

Y=distance between tow Luminous
edge
d=distance between tow slite
 CDs and DVDs as Diffraction Gratings

CDs/DVDs display streaks of colors

when white light falls on them
The digital information stored on the
discs form closely spaced rows acting
like a reflecting diffraction grating
when white light is reflected from the
disc each wavelength of light can be
seen at a particular angle with respect to
the discs surface producing a light
spectra
Experiment Set-up: Diffraction Pattern
Reflective Diffraction Gratings:
Principle of Operation
Blazed difrraction grating
 Applications
Reflective Gratings are wavelength-selective
filters. Other examples of filters are Fiber Bragg
grating, Fabry-Perot, Mach-Zehnder, etc z

In optical communications, they are used for :

a)Wavelength Selection: Splitting and/or

combining optical signals
b) Pulse Compression: Normally as
reflectors in external cavity DBR lasers