Lecture 01

22.1 Light and Optics

22.2 The Interference of Light

Newtons Corpuscular Theory of Light

Light is made up of small discrete particles called "corpuscles" (little particles)
which travel in a straight line with a finite velocity

Sir Isaac Newton

(1643-1727)

Wave Model

Three Models of Light

The wave model

Under many circumstances, light exhibits the same behavior as sound or water
waves. The study of light as a wave is called wave optics.
The ray model
The properties of prisms, mirrors, and lenses are best understood in terms of light
rays. The ray model is the basis of ray optics.
The photon model
In the quantum world, light behaves like neither a wave nor a particle. Instead,
light consists of photons that have both wave-like and particle-like properties. This
is the quantum theory of light.

Light Diffraction
The wave model
Under many circumstances, light exhibits the same behavior as sound or water
waves. The study of light as a wave is called wave optics.
When red light passes through an opening
that is close to its wavelength, it spreads
out.
Diffraction of light is observable if the
hole is sufficiently small.

We will fully understand this effect later in

this chapter

For now, can be viewed as light

illuminating the slit, making it a new light
source that emits to all directions

Phet: Wave Interference: water, sound, light with one slit

Youngs Double-Slit Experiment

Phet: Wave Interference: water, sound, light with two slits

Youngs Double-Slit Experiment

r d sin
Construct interference (bright fringes)

L
L
r d sin m sin m m m m ym m
y ym 1 ym
d
d
d
d
Destructive interference (dark)
1
1
1
1 L
r d sin (m ) sin m ( m ) m ( m ) ym ( m )
2
2 d
2 d
2 d

Power and Intensity (Review PHSX 212)

Waves carrier energy
For a steady source, it emits energy at a constant rate - constant power
For a spherical wave
The same amount of power is spread over a
larger and larger area as wave propagates.
Intensity
Power per unit area
Energy per unit time and per unit area
W/m2

Psource
4 r 2

Energy of the oscillation (source) scales as

the square of the amplitude

1 2
kx
2
I (constant)A2

For EM waves

1
I c 0 E02
2

Intensity Distribution

E1 (r1 , t ) a sin(kr1 t )
E2 (r2 , t ) a sin(kr2 t )

E E1 E2 a sin(kr1 t ) sin(kr2 t )
1
1

2a cos 1 2 sin 1 2
2
2

2a cos sin kr t A sin kr t

2

2
2 y
k r
d sin
d

L
y
A y 2a cos d
L

I y

1
1
y
c 0 A2 c 0 4a 2 cos 2 d
2
2
L

y
4 I1 cos 2 d
L

Intensity Distribution
y
I y 4I1 cos d
L
2

Construct

ym m

L
d

1 L
y

(
m

)
Destructive m
2 d