Rayleigh Criterion Calculations The Rayleigh Criterion can be mathematically described by considering angular separation and single-slit diffraction Angular separation can be calculated using the e...
Diffracting Aperture A circular aperture allows a cone of light to enter a region behind the aperture Examples of circular aperture include: A lens within an optical device such as a camera The pup...
Thin Film Interference Thin film interference causes the iridescence seen in: Nature on peacock feathers Glossy flower petals Soap bubbles The shiny side of a CD Thin layers - or films - of oil on ...
The Diffraction Grating Equation The angles at which the maxima of intensity (constructive interference) are produced can be deduced by the diffraction grating equation: The lines per m (or per mm,...
Diffraction Grating Patterns A diffraction grating is a plate consisting of a very large number of parallel, identical, close-spaced slits When monochromatic light is incident on a grating, a patte...
Two-Slit Interference Patterns For two-source interference fringes to be observed, the sources of the wave must be: Coherent (constant phase difference) Monochromatic (single wavelength) When two w...
Young’s Double-Slit Experiment Young’s double-slit experiment demonstrates how light waves can produce an interference pattern The setup of the experiment is shown below: Young’s double-slit experi...
Intensity of Interference Maxima & Minima Using different sources of monochromatic light demonstrate that: Increasing the wavelength increases the width of the fringes The angle of diffraction ...
The Nature of Single-Slit Diffraction When plane waves are incident normally on a single slit, a diffraction pattern is produced This is represented as a series of light and dark fringes which show...
