6(b).23.

DIFFRACTION AT A SINGLE SLIT

by beam of
a
Consider a narrow slit AB illuminated
passing
After through the
light coming from infinity. off a
into the s c r e e n by m e a n s
slit, the beam is focussed (undeviated)
double convex lens L'. Rays going straight
w.r.t. the
is the central point
come to focus at O' which
the point '0' should
edges A and B [Fig. 6(6).29].
Thus,
been brought to
have
be a bright spot. Since all the rays darkness
have been complete
focus at '0', there shoud
On the contrary, it is observed that
on either side of 0'.
there are alternate dark and bright fringes on
This can be
eitherside of the central bright spot '0'.
diffraction phenomenon.
explained on the basis of
situated at a distance y' from 0'. A
Consider a point Pi,

- P2
A P
a

P
B
Pa
Fig. 6(b).29. Diffraction at a single slit.
 644

beam of light reaches

'P' only if it gets bent through an
angle '8'. Draw AE perpendicular to the ray diffractea
from 'B', then AE is said to be diffracted wavefront.
For the point 'P', the path differencex(= BE)
between the rays coming from A and B is given by
x = BE = a sin 6
where a width of the slit.
Condition for minima
Let the width (AB) of the slit be such that rays starting
from its extreme ends A and B differ in path by .
or by phase of 2r radian
[Fig.
6(6).30]. In such a case, the slit can
be divided into two halves (AC and
CB), so that, rays reaching the point
of observation Pi starting from A c 27
and C differ in path by 2 or phase
of t radian. Same is the case for
rays starting from C and B. Every
point in one half the slit shall have
a corresponding point in the Fig. 6(b).30. Phase
difference of 2
second half such that rays starting radian between
from them differ in path by W2. On l extreme rays.

reaching the point of bservation they shall meet

destructively, thus, neutralising each other's effect.
Point of observation (P1) shall be a dark spot. Same is
the case if the extreme rays differ in path by 2. In that
case, the slit can be imagined to consist of four
equal parts, each part neutralising the effect of the next
part.
Generalising, we can have condition for minimum to
be

x-BE =
2n n
where n =1, 2, 3,
n cannot have zero value since that
corresponds the
central spot which will be a bright spot.
x = a 8in e,
Since
So, condition for minima is
s
a sin 0, = na

sin 0, = na
or

to nth order minima.

6,' corresponds
Condition for maxima
Rays starting from A and B reach the central point
O (symmetric with respect to slit) in phase with each
other. So, the central point is a bright spot called
central maxima. Moving upward from 0, alongg the
screen, we reach a point P2 such that the path path
difference between extreme rays here is 3/2 or a phase
difference of 3 n radian IFig
Bb).311 Let us imagine the slit to
be divided into three equal parts.
AC
Rays starting from portion C
destructively with those
shall meet
starting from CD, thus, neutralising
cach other. Portion DB shall be
left
behind and shall produce a maxima
at P. This point Pa is called Fig. 6( b).31 Phes
is much differere f 37 radig
secondary marima and betweer extreme
maxima.
weaker than central rays
Similarly, we can have secondary
maximas corresponding to path difference of 5/2,

for secondar
Generalising, we get the condition
maxima as
sin =(2n + 1);
a sin 6=(2n+ 1) or

where n 1,2,3.....
=

distribution i

A graphical view of the intensity

maxima have ver
shown in Fig. 6(b).32. Secondary
weak

tIntensity

P O P, P2Distance troin cenvy

distribution
Fig. 6( b).32. intensity

second seonu
Intensity of first and
intensity. 1
and spe*
maxima o n either
side are,of O

of intensity
at
O.
änd mininmas are s
Secondary maximas ttti
Thete
6 is very small (sin
s i t u a t e d that wrie
and maximä c a n be
conditions for minima

n (for minima
a 14

(for maxima)

and = (2n+ 24
Width of central maxima facussin
 2a

Width of central maxima

Fig. 66).33 shows a converging lens focussing the
diffraction pattern on a screen distant D apart from the
slit. Lens lies close to the slit so that we can take D -f
where f is the focal length of lens. Points P1, P2,.
on either side of Po represent secondary minimas while
P1', P2, .. . .
again on either side of Po represent
 WAVE OPTIcS

aeCondary maximas, It is clear from the figure that

distance between two first minimas on either side
gives the linear spread of central maxima and known as

width of central maxima.

-- *1Po

Fig. 6(6).33. Secondary maximas and minimas.

If y1 = half width of
Centralmaxima [Fig.
66).34].
Y1

were 6 is the angle

ubtended by PoP at the
dit.
Fig. 6(b).34. Half width of central
Putting n = 1 in maxima.

equation (13), 6, =

or y =
Width (linear) of central maxima, o = 2

9 i s also known as the half angular width of

entral maxima.
Width (angular) of central maxima is,
2
28 =
llowing factors govern the width of central
axima
(i) Wavele
elength of light. Greater the wavelength
pf light, reater is the spread of central imaxima.
Width of slit. Smaller the width of slit,
aEr Is
the spread of central max1ma.