INSTITUTE :UIE

DEPARTMENT: ACADEMIC UNIT 1&4

Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Science & Engineering)
Subject Name and Code:
Physics For Engineers
21SPH-141
Prepared by: Dr. Deepak Kumar, Assistant Prof. Physics

Diffraction of Laser Beam DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER

 COURSE OBJECTIVES
• The course is designed to make the students industry
ready to contribute in the growing demand of the
industry at local, national and international level.
• It will make the students competent to understand
basic concepts and applications of advanced engineering
physics and apply its principles in their respective fields
at global platform.
• It will enhance the skill level of the students and shall
make them preferred choice for getting employment in
industry and research labs.
• It will give thorough knowledge of the discipline to
enable students to disseminate knowledge in pursuing Figure 1 [1]

excellence in academic areas.

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 COURSE OUTCOMES
CO Number Title
On completion of this course, the students are expected to
learn
CO1 Quote the basic fundamental concepts of lasers, optical
fibres, crystallography, ultrasonic oscillations,
semiconductor physics, quantum mechanics and
nanotechnology.
CO2
Demonstrate the working of various lasers, fibre
components, semiconductor devices; explain the behaviour
of crystalline solids, quantum and nano-scale systems.
CO3 Solve problems by applying principles related to lasers,
fibres, semiconductors, oscillations, quantum and
nanoscience.
CO4
Compare various lasers and fibres, semiconducting devices,
crystalline materials, structures at quantum and nanoscale
on the basis of their properties for industrial applications.
CO5 Develop various systems using lasers, fibres,
semiconductors and nanomaterials for futuristic Figure 2 [2] 3
applications.
 LIST OF EXPERIMENTS
 To find the divergence of LASER beam.
 To determine the diffraction using LASER beam and find the grating element of
diffraction grating.
 To determine the numerical aperture of optical Fiber.
 To determine the resistivity of semiconductors by four probe Method.
 To draw the static current- voltage characteristics of a Zener diode.
 To determine the Hall Voltage and Hall Coefficient Using Hall Effect.
 Determine the value of ‘g’ by using Kater’s Pendulum
 To find the velocity of ultrasonic wave in the given liquid.
 Investigating the Doppler Effect with ultrasonic waves.
 Determination of ‘h’ using photocell.
 To study photoelectric effect for a metal at different intensities and fixed
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frequency.
 Objective

The objective of this lab activity is to determine the diffraction using

LASER beam and find the grating element of diffraction grating.

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 Apparatus Required
S.No. Equipment Range Quantities in
No.
Power Supply/
1 Operating Voltage 5mV/3-12V 1

2 1
Laser 400-700 nm

1
3 Diffraction Grating 200-500lines per
mm
4 Screen NA 1

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 Laser

A laser is a device that

emits light through a process of optical
amplification based on the stimulated
emission of electromagnetic radiation.
The term "laser" originated as
an acronym for light amplification by
stimulated emission of radiation.

Figure 3 [3] Laser Light

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 Working of Laser
Lasers work to amplify a light source and
turn it into one powerful, concentrated
beam.

 Lasers also must have a medium that

produces amplification of light.

This beam can then be emitted outward

in a single line of bright light.

Figure 4 [4] Working of Laser

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 Diffraction Grating

• A diffraction grating is an optical

component with a periodic structure that
splits and diffracts light into several beams
travelling in different directions.

• Diffraction grating is a set of thousands of

narrow, closely spaced parallel slits; typically
the distance between the lines is comparable
to the wavelength of light. Distance between
two consecutive slits (lines) of a grating is
called grating element (d) . Figure 5 [5] Diffraction Grating

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 Screen
• Light rays that pass through such a
surface are bent as a result of
diffraction, related to wave properties
of light.

• Grating light with larger wavelength

has larger diffraction angle.

• A single wavelength can simultaneously

have multiple discrete diffraction
angles called diffraction orders. Figure 6 [6] Diffraction Orders

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 Theory

• Diffraction is the slight bending of light as it

passes around the edge of an object. The
amount of bending depends on the relative
size of the wavelength of light to the size of
the opening.

• When waves pass through a gap, which is

about as wide as the wavelength they
spread out into the region beyond the gap. 
Figure 7 [7] Diffraction

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 Theory

• Huygens considered each point along a

wave front to be the source of a
secondary disturbance that forms a semi-
circular wavelet.

• Diffraction is due to the superposition of

such secondary wavelets. The secondary
wavelets spread out and overlap each
other interfering with each other to form
a pattern of maximum and minimum Figure 8 [8] Diffraction Pattern
intensity.
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 Formula used

The grating equation is given by

d sin θ =n λ

d =n λ /sin θ (1)

Where θ is the angle of diffraction, (a + b) is the grating element n or k=0, ±1,

±2,……….and λ is the wavelength of light used.

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Diffraction pattern diagram

Figure 9 Diffraction pattern of laser beam [9]

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 Procedure

• Arrange the apparatus .

• Fix the graph paper on the screen and place it at appreciable distance D from
grating so that distinct maxima are seen.

• Mark the central brightest spot and maxima on both side of central maximum.

• Using a scale find the distance between first maxima on either side of central
spot.

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 Procedure

 Find the sine of angle of diffraction θ by formula given in observation table.

 Repeat the steps 4 and 5 for 2nd and 3rd maxima. Then use these values to
calculate grating element d from equation (1).

 Then calculate % error in grating element d.

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 Observation table & Calculations:-
Wavelength of Diode laser, λ=650 nm
Position of nth
order maxima Mean
Distance
distance of
between
nthorder
Order of Grating d=nλ/Sinθ
S.No. On left On right maxima (m)
diffraction (n) and screen
(OPn) (OPn′) from zeroth
(D)
m Cm order OP n
(m)
(m)

1.              
 
             
2.
 
             
3.
 
Mean value of grating element, d=______________________m 17
 Result

 Grating element d = _________ m

Standard grating element d= 1/N , where N is no of lines per mm
if N= 500
d= 10 ̄³/500 = 0.002 x 10 ̄³ = 2 x 10 ̄⁶ m
 % age error =
|Std value – exp value|
____________________ x 100
Standard value

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 Sources of error
 The main sources of error are the distance between the laser and the wall,
and the size of the dots. There is a further enlargement of the dots due to
attenuation as it passes through the air. This experiment would have been
more accurate if executed in a vacuum.

 The dots on the extreme edges are also larger than they needed to be since
the light is spread out and it is hitting the surface (the wall) at an angle.

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 Learning Outcomes
• On completion students will be able to understand

• Bending of waves around the corners of an obstacle/aperture.

• The characteristic bending pattern is most pronounced when a wave from a

coherent source encounters a slit.

• Diffracted lights shine on a distant screen which has a central bright spot
labelled m=0 and a higher order bright fringes that can also be observed.

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 Summary

• Introduction to Laser light

• Working of Laser

• Description of Equipments.

• Observation table.

• Result

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 Viva Voice Questions
 What is diffraction?

 Define Grating?

 What is Bragg’s law of diffraction?

 How does diffraction differ from interference?

 Define dispersive and resolving power of grating?

 How many orders of spectra possible for grating of 15000 lines per inch?

 What is the condition for the second order of spectra?

 Do you use original grating in laboratory?

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 Simulation and video links

• Simulation Link:-

https://ophysics.com/l5b.html

• Link for related video: -

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxS8cfqg1a0

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71Rp-jG6Eek
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 References
1. https://images.app.goo.gl/onXTfVDfo1WiwTcK9
2. https://in.pinterest.com/pin/842243567793191631/
3. https://in.pinterest.com/pin/842243567793191631/
4. https://sustainablenano.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/laser2.png
5. http://physicsnet.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/diffraction-grating-pic.jp
g
6. https://holmarc.com/differ_screen.php
7. https://vlab.amrita.edu/userfiles/1/image/laser/wave.JPG
8. https://physicsopenlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/slitDiffraction.gif
9. https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-3/pages/4-4-diffraction-
grating
s
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THANK YOU

For queries:deepak.e1972@cumail.in