DIFFRACTION OF COHERENT LIGHT

INTRODUCTION

During this laboratory work, you experimentally investigate light diffraction in

a diffraction grating and single slit. The wavelength of helium – neon (𝐻𝑒 − 𝑁𝑒) laser
beam also will be determined.
Before starting this work you should be familiar with the diffraction phenomena,
Huygens and Fresnel principle, Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction.
For work the following equipment is used (Fig.1).

Fig. 1
1. 𝐻𝑒 − 𝑁𝑒 gas laser (2) mounted on the bench (1), high voltage power supply (6);
2. Diffraction grating (3);
3. Convex lens (4);
4. Slit of variable width (5);
5. Screen (11) for observation of diffraction patterns;
6. Photo resistor (12) for the light intensity measurements. It can be moved along
the diffraction pattern by turning the handle (13).
7.
PROCEDURE

1. Turn on the power supply of the laser. Let wait from 3 to 5 minutes until the
laser begins to generate light. AVOID LOOKING AT THE DIRECT OR EVEN
REFRECTED LASER BEAM!
2. Investigate the diffraction pattern produced by laser beam in the diffraction
grating. Remove the convex lens and single slit from the bench and attach the
diffraction grating near the laser. Adjust the grating so that the diffraction pattern
is horizontal. Adjust the height of the observation screen so that the diffraction
pattern is against the scale. Measure the coordinates of the diffraction maximum
of the 1st, 2st and 3rd orders (both on the left and right from the central
maximum).
3. Investigate diffraction in a single slit. Replace the diffraction grating to grating
by the variable slit. Adjust the slit width and orientation so that clear and
 horizontal diffraction pattern is observed. Adjust the height of the photo resistor
so that its slit is against the diffraction pattern. Measure the coordinated and
intensities of the diffraction maximum of the order – 3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3 ( to
measure the intensities the power supply of the photo resistor firstly should be
turned on). Close the photo resistor slit by opaque material and measure the dark
current of the photo resistor 𝐼𝑑 .
4. Insert the convex lens between the laser and the variable slit so that a diverging
light beam illuminates the latter. Observe how the diffraction pattern varies
when the slit width is changed. Copy onto paper one pattern with the diffraction
minimum (dark fringe) at the center and another one with a maximum (bright
fringe).
5. Turn the power off laser and photo resistor.

ANALYSIS

1. For each order of the diffraction maximum observed in the step 2 of experiment
determine the wavelength of the laser light
𝑑
𝜆 = ( ) 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑𝑘
𝑘
where, 𝑑 is grating spacing.
𝑥𝑘
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑𝑘 =
𝑥 2
√[𝐿2 + ( 𝑘 ) ]
2
The sine of the diffraction angle (Fig 2) of the maximum of the order 𝑘, 𝑥𝑘 is distance
between the left and right maximum on the screen, and 𝐿 is the distance from the
diffraction grating to the screen.

Fig. 2
Calculate the average value of wavelength of the laser light.
2. For the measured intensities (step 3 of the experiment) of the diffraction
maximum, determine the real photocurrent as a difference of the measured
values and the value of the current in the darkness 𝐼𝑑 .Plot the dependence of the
photocurrent on the position of the maximum (𝐼𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜 (𝑥).
3. Draw schematically three diffraction patterns with diffraction minimum and
maximum at the center observed in the step 4 of the experiment. Explain what
parameter are different of these two patterns.
 QUESTIONS

1. What is light diffraction?

2. What the different points of diffraction pattern can have different intensity?
3. What is diffraction grating?
4. What diffraction pattern is produced by a diffraction grating illuminated by a
parallel monochromatic light beam?
5. What diffraction pattern is produced by a slit illuminated by a parallel beam of
monochromatic light? How does the pattern change when the slit width is
changed ?
6. What diffraction pattern is produced by a slit illuminated by a diverging beam
of monochromatic light? How does the pattern change when the slit width is
changed? What does it depend on that dark or bright fringe is observed at the
center ?