Useful Concepts Wave Optics

Interference
For Young’s double-slit experiment the angular locations of the maxima
and minima are given by
nλ=d sin θ , n=0,1,2,3 , … ( maxima ) ,

(n+ 12 ) λ=d sin θ n=0,1,2,3 , … ( minima) ,

where d is the separation between the slits.
Interference in Thin Films
When light is normally incident in air on thin films of index of refraction n,
the interference between the front and back surface reflections gives
maxima and minima when

(m+ 12 ) λ=2 nt m=0,1,2,3 , … ( maxima) ,

mλ=2nt m=0,1,2,3 , … ( minima ) ,

where t is the thickness of the film and λ is the wave-length of the light.

One of the most important applications of interference in thin films occurs

when we place a thin film in contact with a third medium of still greater
index of refraction. As we have already explained, a phase change occurs
upon reflection at both surfaces, since both surfaces are low-index to high-
index boundaries. As a result, the condition for constructive interference in
the reflected beams is
mλ=2nt m=0,1,2,3 , … .(maxima)

When monochromatic light strikes the surface at normal incidence, a phase

difference occurs between the two reflected beams as a result of the
difference in their paths. In this case destructive interference occurs for
(m+ 12 ) λ=2 nt ,m=0,1,2,3 ,… .( minima)
When the thickness of the film is λ /4n, corresponding to m = 0, there is no
reflection at that wavelength. So, if we coat a piece of glass, such as a lens,
with a thin film of the right thickness, and with an index of refraction
intermediate between those of air and glass, we can minimize reflection
from the glass. Such a film is called an antireflection coating. Because
reflections are reduced, more light is transmitted through lenses that have
antireflection coatings.
Diffraction
The spreading out of the light passing through a small aperture or around a
sharp edge is called diffraction. For diffraction by a single slit of width b,
the angular locations of the minima are given by
nλ=b sin θ , n=1,2,3 , …

A diffraction grating consists of a large number of parallel, closely spaced

slits. When light passes through a diffraction grating and falls on a viewing
screen, the light forms a pattern of bright and dark fringes. The bright
fringes are referred to as principal maxima and are found at an angle θ that
is specified by
λ
sin θ=n , n=0,1,2,3 , …
d

where λ is the wavelength of the light and d is the separation between two
adjacent slits.
Rayleigh criterion
For a circular aperture of diameter D, the minimal angle of resolution as
λ
given by Rayleigh criterion is θm = 1.22 D