Diffraction of light

waves:
A

B
Fig 2
When a beam of light passes through a narrow slit, it
spreads out to a certain extent into the region of
geometrical shadow. This effect, which is one of the
simplest examples of the failure of light to travel in straight
lines, is known as diffraction.
In other words, when a light strikes the edge of an
obstacle, it bends and enters into the shadow zone. Close
examination of a shadow under a bright source will reveal
that it is made up of finely spaced bright and dark regions.
The obstacle alters the amplitude or phase of the light
waves such that the regions of the wavefront that
propagate beyond the obstacle will interfere with each
other. This phenomenon is called the diffraction of light.
Diffraction phenomenon can be explained satisfactorily
only by assuming a wave character of light. For all kind
of waves, effect of diffraction is observable only if the
wavelength of the incident wave is comparable to the
dimensions of diffracting device.
Diffraction occurs whenever a portion of a wavefront is
obstructed by some opaque object. Close examination
of a shadow under a bright source will reveal that it is
made up of finely spaced bright and dark regions. In this
case, light appears not to be propagating in a straight
line; the obstacle alters the amplitude or phase of the
light waves such that the regions of the wavefront that
propagate beyond the obstacle will interfere with each
other.
Types of diffraction:
The diffraction phenomena are conveniently
divided into two general classes:
Fraunhofer diffraction:
In Fraunhofer diffraction the monochromatic
source of light and the screen on which the pattern
is observed are effectively at infinite distances
from the slit causing the diffraction.
Fresnel diffraction:
In Fresnel diffraction either the monochromatic
source or the screen, or both, are at finite distances
from the slit.
Fraunhofer diffraction is much simpler to treat
theoretically. It is easily observed in practice by
making the light from a source parallel with a lens,
and focusing it on a screen with another lens
placed behind the slit. This arrangement
effectively makes the source and screen to infinity.

In the observation of Fresnel diffraction, on the

other hand, no lenses are necessary, but here the
wave fronts are divergent instead of plane, and the
theoretical treatment is consequently more
complex.
How does wavelength affect diffraction?
The angle of diffraction is directly proportional to the size of
the wavelength. Hence red light (long wavelength) diffracts
more than blue light (short wavelength). And radio waves
(really long wavelength) diffract more than X-rays (really short
wavelengths).
Diffraction fringe:
When a wave-front strikes an opening in an obstruction, all the
points of wavefront in the opening become secondary sources
of light. All these sources emit their own wavelets (secondary
waves). These waves in the same medium superpose or
interfere with each other. As a result, on any given screen we
observe ultimate bright and dark fringes. These are known as
diffraction fringes.
𝑺𝟏

𝑺𝟐
Fraunhofer diffraction in single slit
If a wave front strikes an opening of width ‘a’, then all the
points within ‘a’ become secondary sources and emit their
own waves. Let there be a screen S at distance D ( Fig-1). Po
is a point on the screen such that it is equidistant from S1 and
S2. Waves from S1 and S2 reach Po in the same phase so there
will be a constructive superposition. The bright fringe at Po is
called central bright fringe.
Let there be a point P on the screen which lies at an angle θ
from 𝑂𝑃𝑜 (Fig-2). The path difference between S1P and S2P
will be 𝑆2 𝑃 − 𝑆1 𝑃 = 𝑆2 𝑁.
Now S1S2 is perpendicular to S2M, S1N is perpendicular to
S2P and ∠𝑃𝑆2 𝑀 = 𝜃.
 2𝝅

Path difference between A and B is one wavelength 𝜆

and Phase difference between A and B is 2𝜋
𝝅/𝟐 𝟑𝝅/𝟐 5𝝅/𝟐

𝝀/𝟐 𝟑𝝀/4
So the angle made by two perpendiculars will also be θ
and hence ∠𝑆2 𝑆1 𝑁 = 𝜃.
Thus we can write,
𝑆2 𝑁 𝛿
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = =
𝑆1 𝑆2 𝑎
∴ 𝑃𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝜹 = 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽

This path difference 𝛿 depends on the elevation 𝜃 of the

point P. As the point P goes upward 𝜃 increases and the
path difference increases.
According to the condition of interference, if path
difference is integral multiple of λ, then the point P will
be bright. But in case of single slit diffraction it
becomes dark and the reason behind this lies on the
secondary wavelets.
Equation for dark fringes:
Let there are 100 wavelets (secondary waves) in between S1
and S2 ( Fig-3).
If S2N is equal to one wavelength (λ), then 50th wavelet will
be at O and the path difference between the rays S1P and OP
will be OT which is equal to λ/2.
Now number 1 and 51 wavelets will have path difference λ/2
and they will cancel each other. Similarly, number 2 and 52
wavelets, 3 and 53 wavelets….50 and 100 wavelets will
cancel each other.
For every point between S1and O there is a pairing source
between O and S2. The interference of each pair gives a dark
point at P. Hence all the sources will be used up with the
result P as a dark point.
Thus dark fringes will occur at path differences
𝜆, 2𝜆, 3𝜆, 4𝜆 … … . . 𝑛𝜆 and the condition for minima becomes
𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 = 𝒏𝝀 . … … … . (1) condition for minima
For θ≈ 0,
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 ≈ 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 ≈ 𝜃
So the condition for minima becomes,
𝑎𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆,
𝑛𝜆
or, θ = .
𝑎
From Fig- 4 using equation (1) we get
𝒚 𝒏𝝀
𝜽= = … … … … (2)
𝑫 𝒂
𝒏𝝀𝑫
𝑜𝑟, 𝒚=
𝒂
Here, y is the distances of dark points from Po.
 𝝀𝑫
For 1st dark fringe, (for 𝑛 = 1) and 𝒚1𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘 =
𝒂
𝟐𝝀𝑫
and for 2nd dark fringe, (𝑛 = 2) and 𝒚2𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘 = .
𝒂

So the width of the bright fringe that lies between two

dark fringes is
𝟐𝝀𝑫 𝝀𝑫 𝝀𝑫
𝒚2𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘 − 𝒚1𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘 = − =
𝒂 𝒂 𝒂
Now Po is the central bright fringe and the distance of the
𝜆𝐷
first dark is at .
𝑎
𝜆𝐷
So the radius of central bright is and the width of the
𝑎
central fringe (from dark above to dark below) is
𝜆𝐷 𝜆𝐷 𝟐𝝀𝑫
+ =
𝑎 𝑎 𝒂
Formation of bright fringes:
Let us consider a point Q where path difference is 3λ/2 or
odd multiple of λ/2.

Here, the wavefronts between S1 and S2 should be divided

𝑆1 𝑆2
into 3 equal segments, each of length equal to λ/2.
3

The 1st segment and 2nd segment will send light waves
from corresponding points which will differ by path λ/2
and should cancel each other (Fig-5).
The 3rd segment will send light waves on the screen which
will not be cancelled and produce brightness.
So the condition for bright fringe will be
𝝀
𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 = 𝟐𝒏 + 𝟏 ; (conditions for maxima)
𝟐
For θ≈ 0,
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 ≈ 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 ≈ 𝜃
So, the condition for maxima becomes,
𝜆
𝑎𝜃 = 2𝑛 + 1 ,
2
(2𝑛+1)𝜆
or, θ = .
2𝑎
From equation-2, we get,
𝑦
𝜃= ,
𝐷
𝑜𝑟, 𝑦 = 𝜃𝐷,
(𝟐𝒏+𝟏)𝝀𝑫
∴ 𝒚𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = θD = .
𝟐𝒂
For 𝑛 = 1; we get the distance of the first
bright from Po is
𝟑𝝀𝑫
𝒚1𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = ,
𝟐𝒂
and second bright (𝑛 = 2)
𝟓𝝀𝑫
𝒚2𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = .
𝟐𝒂
So the width of the bright fringe is
5 3 𝜆𝐷 𝜆𝐷
𝒚2𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 − 𝒚1𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = − = .
2 2 𝑎 𝑎
Problem 1: A plane monochromatic light wave
falls normally on a single slit. A screen placed at
a distance 8m from the slit plane shows a
diffraction pattern. If the slit width is decreased
to half, find the new distance to be adjusted
between slit plane and the screen for which the
diffraction pattern is similar but diminished to
half.
 𝒏𝝀𝑫
𝒚𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘 =
𝒂

(𝟐𝒏+𝟏)𝝀𝑫
𝒚𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 =
𝟐𝒂
Problem 1: A plane monochromatic light wave falls
normally on a single slit. A screen placed at a distance 8m
from the slit plane shows a diffraction pattern. If the slit
width is decreased to half, find the new distance to be
adjusted between slit plane and the screen for which the
diffraction pattern is similar but diminished to half.
Solution :
If 𝑙 is the width of the central maxima in the diffraction
pattern, We can write
2𝜆𝐷 𝑙𝑎
𝑙= , or 𝐷 = … … (1).
𝑎 2𝜆
Where, 𝐷 is the distance between slit and screen,𝑎 is the
width of the single slit and 𝜆 is the wavelength of light
used.
According to the problem, if the slit width is decreased to
half, the central maximum also reduced to half. Let it
happens when we move the screen at a distance 𝐷′ from
the plane of the slit. So when 𝐷 becomes 𝐷′ , 𝑙 becomes
𝑙′and 𝑎 becomes 𝑎′.
𝑙 𝑎
Putting 𝑙′ = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎′ = ; Equation-1 can be written as
2 2
𝑙′ 𝑎′
𝐷′ =
2𝜆
𝑙/2 . 𝑎/2
=
2𝜆
𝑙𝑎 𝐷 8𝑚
= = =
4 × 2𝜆 4 4
= 2𝑚.
So, the distance where the new screen will be placed is
2m from the slit.
Problem 2: Calculate the minimum angular
separation between the 1st minima formed in the
Fraunhofer single slit diffraction pattern of slit width
𝟏𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 𝒄𝒎 when the slit is illuminated by a light
source having wavelength 5000Å.

Hint: 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆
Problem 2: Calculate the minimum angular separation
between the 1st minima formed in the Fraunhofer single slit
diffraction pattern of slit width 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 𝒄𝒎 when the slit is
illuminated by a light source having wavelength 5000Å.
Solution:
We know, if θ is the angular separation between dark fringes,
′𝑎′ the width of single slit and ′𝜆′ the wavelength of incident
light then
𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑛𝜆, (𝑛 = 1,2,3 … . )
𝑛𝜆
𝑜𝑟, 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 =
𝑎
Here, 𝑎 = 12 × 10−5 𝑐𝑚, 𝜆 = 5000 Å = 5000 × 10−8 𝑐𝑚
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛 = 1 .
 𝑛𝜆
∴𝜃= sin−1
𝑎
1 × 5000 × 10−8
= sin−1
12 × 10−5
= 24.63°
So, the minimum angular separation
between the 1st minima formed in both
sides of the central maxima is
2𝜃 = 2 × 24.63º
= 49.25°
Problem 3: In Fraunhofer diffraction pattern due
to a single slit, the screen is placed at a distance of
4m from the lens to obtain the pattern. The width
of the slit is 0.4 mm and the first minima lie 5mm
on either sides of the central maximum. Calculate
the wavelength of light.

𝒏𝝀𝑫
Hint: 𝒚𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘 =
𝒂
Problem 3: In Fraunhofer diffraction pattern due to a
single slit, the screen is placed at a distance of 4m from the
lens to obtain the pattern. The width of the slit is 0.4 mm
and the first minima lie 5mm on either sides of the central
maximum. Calculate the wavelength of light.
Solution:
if ‘y’ be the distances of dark points from central bright,
‘D’ the distance of the screen from the single slit, ‘𝑎’ the
slit width and ‘𝜆’ the wavelength of incident light, then
𝑛𝜆𝐷
y= ; (𝑛 = 1, 2, 3, 4, … . )
𝑑
𝑦𝑑
o𝑟, 𝜆 =
𝑛𝐷
Here,
𝑛 = 1; 𝑓𝑜𝑟 1𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑎
𝐷 = 4𝑚;
𝑦 = 5 𝑚𝑚 = 5 × 10−3 𝑚 ;
𝑑 = 0.4 𝑚𝑚 = 4 × 10−4 𝑚.
𝑦𝑑
∴𝜆=
𝐷
5 × 10−3 𝑚 × 4 × 10−4 𝑚
=
4𝑚
= 5 × 10−7 𝑚
= 5000 Å.
So, the wavelength of light used to obtain the Fraunhofer
pattern is 5000 Å.