UNIT IV: Wave Optics

Interference
The interference based on the superposition principle, which states that, “when two (or) more light wave
trains act simultaneously on any particle in a medium, the particle is displaced due to superposition of all
acting waves.

2.1. Interference of Light

When two light waves from the same sources superimposes on each other than the resultant
amplitude in the region of superposition differs from the amplitude of the individual waves. This
modification of light energy i.e. change in amplitude is called as interference.

When the amplitude of the resultant light wave is equal to the sum of the amplitude the two interfering
waves and their path difference is multiples of ‘λ’ with phase difference is 0, 2π, 4π.... then the
interference is called constructive interference and the field of view is bright. [Fig. 2.1.(a)]

Fig. 2.1. (a) Constructive Interference (b) Destructive Interference

When the amplitude of the resultant light wave is equal to the difference of two amplitudes and their
path difference is multiple of λ/2 with phase difference is π, 3π, 5π..... Then the interference is known as
destructive interference and the field of view is dark. [Fig. 2.1.(b)]

2.2. Conditions for Interference

For interference to occur between two sources the following condition has to be satisfied
 There must be two waves which are coherent in nature (i.e.) they must be of same wavelength,
frequency and amplitude.
 The waves should have constant phase difference (or) zero phase difference.
 The waves should travel along same direction with constant velocity.

Huygens’ Wavefront

According to Huygens' theory a point source of light placed in a isotropic medium emits light waves in all
directions. Tese waves spresd out in the form of concentric spheres with the velocity of 3 × 108 ms −1 . The
disturbance will reach simultaneously to all particles lying on the surface of s sphere with the point source
as the centre.Such a sphere is called as a wavefront.

The locus of all the particles in the medium which are disturbed at the same instant of time and are
in the same phase or same state of vibration is called a wavefront

The shape of the wavefront depends on the shape of the source of light. 1. Spherical

wavefront – This is due to a point source of light. 2. Cylindrical wavefront – This is

due to a linear source of light. 3. Plane wavefront – When a point source of a linear

source is placed at a large distance, then the part of the spherical or cylindrical
wavefront can be considered as a plane wavefront.

Huygens’ Principle

S is the source of light sending out light

waves in all directions. After any given

interval of time (t) all the particles of the

medium on a surface XY will be vibrating

in phase. Thus XY is a portion of the

sphere of radius vt and centre S. v is the

velocity of propagation of waves. XY is

called primary wavefront.

According to Huygens' principle, all

points on the primary wavefront (1, 2,

3…….) are sources of secondary

disturbance. The secondary waves from

these sources travel with the same

velocity as the original wave and the

envelop of all the secondary wavelets

after any given interval of time gives rise to secondary wavfront. In the diagram

shown XY is the primary wavefront. After an interval of time t’ the secondary waves

travel a distance vt’. With the points 1,2,3… as centres spheres of radii vt’ are drawn.

The envelop X1Y1 is the secondary wavefront. The backward wavefront X2Y2 is not

considered in the Huygens’principle.

Young’s double slit experiment:

Light from a monochromatic source is directed on to a fine vertical slit S. A fine beam of light from S is
made to fall on two parallel

and equally distinct fine slits A and B separated by a small distance. The
two slits act as two sources of light From these two slits, waves spread out
in all directions. These waves superpose on each other and produce
interference pattern on a screen placed at a distance from the slits. The
interference pattern consists of alternate bright and dark bands. The two
light waves arriving in phase at a point on the screen interfere
constructively giving rise to a bright band. This is due to overlapping of crest of one wave on the

crest of the other or trough of one falling on the trough of the other.

The two light waves arriving out of phase at a point on the screen interfere destructively giving rise to a
dark band. This is due to overlapping of a crest of one wave on the trough of the other or vice versa. Thus
the phenomenon of interference is defined as folloss,

The modification in the intensity of light energy, when two or more light waves

superpose on each other is called interference.

This phenomenon is based on the principle of superposition.

According to this principle, when two or more light waves travel through a point in a medium simultaneously,
the net effect at that point is the algebraic sum of the effects

produced due to individual waves. At any instant, the resultant displacement is

equal to the vector sum of the individual displacements produced by each wave.

It is not possible to show interference due to two independent sources of light. This

is because, the two sources may have different amplitudes, different wavelengths

and the phases of two may vary. Hence there is a requirement of coherent sources.

Coherent sources:

The two light sources that are responsible for producing interference must be coherent sources. The two
light sources are said to be coherent if the two light waves are in the same phase or have constant phase
difference.Also the wavelengths or the frequencies of the two sources must be sam and also they must
have nearly same amplitude. In practice the two independent sources cannot be coherent. But for
experimental purposes, the two virtual sources formed from a single source can act as coherent sources.
There are two methods of obtaining these sources.

(1) Division of wavefront – For experimental purposes two virtual sources formed

due to a single source can act as coherent sources. It is also possible to achieve

coherence between a real source and a virtual source. In these cases a wavefront

coming from a source is divided into two parts. For example in case of Young’s

double slit experiment, the primary wavefront incident on the double slit is divided

to two parts. Other example is the Fresnel’s biprism in which a biprism divides the

wavefront into two parts and forms two virtual coherent sources toproduce

interference.

(2) Division of amplitude – Here the amplitude of wave emitted by a source of light

is divided into two parts where one part is reflected and the other part is
transmitted. These reflected or transmitted rays superpose and produce

interference. In case of thin film, the incident light is partly reflected at the top

surface of the film and the other part is refracted. The refracted light is again

reflected at the bottom surface of the film and comes out of the film parallel to the

first reflected ray. These tao rays are coherent and they superpose to produce

interference. Other examples are Newton’s rings, Michelson’s interferometer, colors

in thin films etc.

2.8. Michelson Interferometer

Introduction
An interferometer is an instrument for measuring small changes in length and is based on the principle of
interference.The study of interferometer is called interferometry. It is used to find the wavelength of
monochromatic light source and thickness of thin strips.
Principle
The two interfering beams are formed by splitting of the light from a source into two parts of equal
intensity by partial reflection and refraction. These beams are sent in two perpendicular directions. The
two beams are finally brought together after reflection from plane mirrors to produce interference fringes.
Construction
 The apparatus consists of two highly polished plane mirrors M1 and M2. The two mirrors are
mounted vertically on two arms perpendicular to each other.The mirror M 1 is mounted on a
carriage and can be moved forward or backward.
 The movement of this mirror is controlled by a very sensitive micrometer screw. The mirror M 2 is
fixed.There are two plane parallel glass plates G 1 and G2 of same thickness placed at an angle of
45˚ to the incident beam. The plate G 1 is semi-silvered on the back side. G1 is a beam splitter. The
plate G2 is a compensating glass plate.
Working
Light from the source ‘S’ is rendered parallel by means of a collimating lens L and is made to fall on the
semi-silvered glass plate G1.At the back surface of G1, the light beam is divided into two parts.

 The part of the light is reflected and travel towards the mirror M1 (ray 1) while the other part of
the light is transmitted towards M2 (ray 2).These rays fall normally on the mirrors M1 and M2
respectively and are reflected back along its original paths.
 The ray reflected by the mirror M1 passes through G1 to reach the telescope T.The ray
reflected by the mirror M2 on reaching G1 gets reflected at its semi silvered surface to reach the
telescope T.
 The two rays which enter the telescope are originally derived from a single incident beam and
therefore, coherent. If we look through the telescope T in the direction of the mirror M1, the eye
will see the mirror M1 directly and also a virtual image of M2 denoted by M'2 formed closed to M1
by reflection in the glass plate G 1.Hence the rays reaching the telescope T appears to make
travel from M1 and M’2.
 Thus, Michelson interferometer system is optically similar to the interference from an air film
enclosed between M1 and M'2. The interference fringes may be straight, circular, parabolic etc.,
Function of the compensating plate G2
The ray reflected at M1 passes through the glass plate G1 twice on reaching the telescope T while the
ray reflected at M2 does not do so even once. That is why, a second plate G 2 of same material thickness
and inclination as G1 is introduced along the path of the ray travelling towards M2. Thus the function of
the plate G2 is only to equalize the paths travelled by both the rays.
 Fig.2.8. Michelson Interferrometer

Types of Fringes
Case 1:
When M'2 coincides with M1 i.e., the paths are exactly equal, then the path difference is only λ/2, field of
view is perfectly dark as shown in Fig. 2.9. (a).
Case 2:
 M1 is moved either forward or backward parallel to itself. Now the mirror M 1 is exactly
perpendicular to mirror M2 i.e., the mirror M1 and the virtual mirror M'2 (image of M2) is exactly
parallel.
 An air film of constant thickness is enclosed between the mirrors M1 M'2, we observe
sufficiently spaced circular fringes as shown in fig. 2.9. (b). These circular fringes are of equal
inclination. The width of the fringes depends upon the path difference between the rays.
Case 3:
 When the mirror M1 intersects the virtual image M'2 the air film enclosed is wedge shaped and
straight line fringes are produced as shown in fig. 2.9. (c).
 If the virtual image M'2 lies just above the planeof the mirror M1 and they do not perfectly
intersect, the fringes produced are curved as shown in fig. 2.9. (d).
 If the plane of the mirror M1 lies above the plane of the virtual image M' 2 and they are not
perfectly intersecting, the fringes formed are slightly curved as shown in fig. 2.9. (e).

Fig.2.9.Formation of different types of fringes

(iii) White light fringes

When white light is used to view the fringes, the colors overlap with each other and only the first few
fringes are visible. These fringes are produced only when the path difference is very small.

Applications of Michelson’s interferometer

 The wavelength of the given source of light
 The refractive index or thickness of a transparent material
 The resolution of wavelengths and standardization of one meter.

2.9. Determination of Wavelength of Monochromatic Light

 λ
When the mirror M1 is moved through a distance 2, the path difference changes by λ. The position of a
particular bright fringe across the cross wire is replaced by the next bright fringe. For the one fringe shift,
λ
distance moved by the mirror M1 = 2 (half of the wavelength). If the mirror M1 is moved through distance
‘d’, then ‘n’ fringes that moved across the field of view.

∴ For the shift of ‘n’ fringes,

The distance moved by the mirror

nλ
M1 = d = 2

2d
orλ = 𝑛
…(1)

Knowing d and n, the wavelength of monochromatic light ‘λ’ can be calculated.

The Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

The Mach-Zehnder interferometer, invented over one hundred years ago, is still used for many optical
measurements. The "Mach" is the same man who proposed Mach's Principle and for whom a unit for the
measurement of the speed of sound is named. Here we describe the details of how a simple version of the
interferometer works; the discussion is largely non-mathematical but somewhat lengthy. A figure of the
interferometer appears to the right.

It turns out that, despite the figure, all of the light from the source ends up at
detector 1; no light gets to detector 2. We will prove that this is so.

First, we will need to know the following facts from optics

 The "half-silvered" mirror is just a crummy mirror: it only reflects half the light incident on it, refracting
the other half through it. Such mirrors are sometimes called one way glass. Sometimes we shall call it a
beam splitter.

 The speed of light in air is almost the speed of light c in a vacuum. In terms of the index of refraction
n=c/v ,where v is the speed of light in the medium, the index of refraction of air is almost exactly 1.

 The speed of light in glass is significantly less than c. For most glasses, the index of refraction is on the
order of 1.5 or so. Put another way, the speed of light in glass is on the order of two-thirds of the speed
of light in a vacuum.

 When a light ray is incident on a surface and the material on the other side of the surface has a higher
index of refraction (i.e. a lower speed of light than the medium that the light is traveling in), then the
reflected light ray is shifted in its phase by exactly one half a wavelength.

 The index of refraction of a perfect mirror can be thought of as infinite. Thus light reflected by a mirror
has its phase changed by one half a wavelength.

 When a light ray is incident on a surface and the material on the other side of the surface has a lower
index of refraction, the reflected light ray does not have its phase changed.
 When a light ray goes from one medium into another, its direction changes due to refraction but no
phase change occurs at the surfaces of the two mediums.

 When a light ray travels through a medium, such as a glass plate, its phase will be shifted by an
amount that depends on the index of refraction of the medium and the path length of the light ray
through the medium.

Note we have labeled the two detectors 1 and 2, and have labeled the upper path of the light U and the
down path of the light D. We consider the two paths for light arriving at detector 1:

Path "U":

1. Reflected by the front of the first beam splitter, giving a phase change of one-half a wavelength.

2. Reflected by the upper-left mirror, giving a further phase change of one-half a wavelength.

3. Transmitted through the upper-right beam splitter, giving some constant phase change.

Path "D":

1. Transmitted through the lower-left beam splitter, giving some constant phase change.

2. Reflected by the front of the lower-right mirror, giving a phase change of one-half a wavelength.2

3. Reflected by the front of the second beam splitter, giving a phase change of one-half a wavelength.

Adding up all the contributions for the two paths, we see that they are the same. Thus light entering
detector 1 via the two paths is in phase. Thus we get constructive interference for the light entering detector
1.

Now we consider light entering detector 2:

Path "U":

1. Reflected by the front of the first beam splitter, giving a phase change of one-half a wavelength.

2. Reflected by the upper-left mirror, giving a further phase change of one-half a wavelength.

3. Transmitted through the second beam splitter, giving some constant phase change.

4. Reflected by the inner surface of the second beam splitter, giving no phase change.

5. Transmitted through the beam splitter a second time, giving an additional constant phase change.

Path "D":

1. Transmitted through the lower-left beam splitter, giving some constant phase change.

2. Reflected by the front of the lower-right mirror, giving a phase change of one-half a wavelength.

3. Transmitted through the second beam splitter, giving some constant phase change.
Adding up all these, we see that the total difference between the two paths is that the U path has gone
through one additional phase change of one-half a wavelength. Therefore, there will be complete
destructive interference, and no light will reach detector 2.

Thus we have proved that, regardless of the wavelength of the light, it all goes to detector 1.

The interferometer is used to measure the phase shift of a thin sample of, say, glass. The sample is placed
in either the U or D beam. The phase shift of the sample alters the phase relationships between the two
beams that we have just described, and there is no longer complete destructive interference at detector 2.
Measuring the relative amount of light entering detector 1 and detector 2

allows a calculation of the phase shift produced by the sample.

Diffraction
2.10. Introduction
 The waves bend round obstacles placed in their path. For example, water waves escaping
through a small hole spread out in all directions as if they have originated at the hole.
 When light waves diverging from a narrow slit S which is illuminated by a monochromatic
source O, passing through an obstacles AB with straight edge.
 When light falls on obstacles or small apertures whose size is comparable with the wavelength
of light, there is a deviation from straight line propagation, the light bends round the corners of the
obstacles or apertures and enters in the geometrical shadow. This bending of light is called
diffraction. It was found that diffraction produces bright and dark fringes of light is called
diffraction bands or fringes.

2.11. Types of Diffraction

2.11. (a). Fresnel’s Diffraction
Source and screen are placed at finite distances from the aperture or obstacle having sharp edges. In
this case no lenses are used for making the rays parallel or convergent. The incident wavefront is either
spherical or cylindrical.

2.11. (b). Fraunhofer’s Diffraction

Source and the screen or telescope (through which the image is viewed) are placed at infinity or
effectively at infinity. In this case the wavefront, which is incident on the aperture or obstacle, is plane.
Difference between Fresnel and Fraunhoffer diffraction:

2.12. Fresnel diffraction Fraunhoffer diffraction

1. In the Fresnel class diffraction the 1. In the Fraunhoffer class

distance between the source and diffraction the distance between
obstacle is finite the source and obstacle is infinite
2. The wavefronts can be 2.The wavefronts here are plane
spherical or cylindrical. wavefronts only.
3. No lenses are required to produce
Fresnel diffraction. 3.Lenses are required to produce
4. The image obtained at the screen is diffraction pattern inside laboratory.
image of obstacle.
4. The image obtained at the screen
is image of source.

Diffraction Grating
  It consists of a large number of equidistant and very narrow slit. Usually, a grating is
constructed by ruling grooves with a diamond point on a transparent glass plate or sheet. The
rulings are equidistant and are of equal thickness.
 The ruled grooves are opaque while the space between any two adjacent grooves is
transparent. A typical commercial grating has about 6000 rulings per centimeter length. A slit of
width ‘a’ and its adjacent opaque ruling of width ‘b’ constitute a grating element of width (a+b).

Theory of the Plane Transmission Grating

 In the Fig. 2.10, XY is the grating surface and MN is the screen, both perpendiculars to the
plane of the paper. The slits are all parallel to one another and perpendicular to the plane of the
paper. Here AB is a slit and BC is an opaque portion.

Fig.2.10. Plane transmission grating

 The width of each slit is ‘a’ and the opaque spacing between any two consecutive slits is ‘b’.
Let a plane wavefront be incident on the grating surface. Then all the secondary waves travelling
in the same direction as that of the incident light will come to focus at the point P on the screen.
 The screen is placed at the focal plane of the collecting lens. The point P where all the
secondary waves reinforce one another corresponds to the position of the central bright
maximum.
 Now, consider the secondary waves travelling in a direction inclined at an angleθ with the
direction of the incident light. The collecting lens also is suitably rotated such that the axis of the
lens is parallel to the direction of the secondary waves as shown in the fig. [2.11 (b)].

(a) (b)

Fig.2.11. Wavelength Calculation using Path difference

 These secondary waves come to focus at the point P 1 on the screen. The intensity at P 1 will
depend on the path difference between the secondary waves originating from the corresponding
points A and C of two neighbouring slits. In the figure AB=a and BC=b.
 The path difference between the secondary waves starting from A and C is equal to AC sin θ. This
will also clear form in fig. 2.11 (b).

But AC = (AB + BC)= (a+b)

 Therefore path difference = AC sin θ = (a + b) sin θ …(1)

 The point P1will be of maximum intensity if this path difference is equal to integral multiples of
λwhere λ is the wavelength of light. In this case, all the secondary waves originating from the
corresponding points of the neighbouring slits reinforce one another and the angle θ gives the
direction of maximum intensity.

In general (a + b) sinθ = nλ …(2)

  Where, θ is the direction of the n th principal maximum. Putting n = 1,2,3etc the angles θ 1, θ2, θ3
etc., corresponding to the directions of the principal maxima can be obtained. If the incident light
consists of more than one wavelength, the beam gets dispersed and the angles of diffraction for
different wavelengths will be different.
 Let λ and  + d be two nearby wavelengths present in the incident light and θ and θ + dθ be
the angles of diffraction corresponding to these two wavelengths. Then, for the first order
principal maxima

(a + b) sinθ = λ …(3)
and
(a + b) sin (θ +dθ) = λ+dλ …(4)
𝝀
2.14. Resolving Power of Grating Devices (𝒅𝝀)
Resolving power or resolution of an instrument is the ability to show the two closer objects as
separated ones with proper magnification.
The resolving power of a grating is defined as its ability to show two close lying neighbouring spectral
lines as separate. If λ and λ+dλ are the wavelengths of two close lying spectral lines which are just
resolved by a grating, then the ratio (λ/dλ) is a measure of resolving power of the grating.

2.15. Rayleigh’s Criterion of Spectral Resolution

 According to the Rayleigh’s criterion, two nearby images are said to be resolved if the position of
the central maximum of more coincides with the first secondary minimum of the other and vice versa.
The same criterion can be conveniently applied to calculate the resolving power of a telescope,
microscope, grating, prism, etc.

Fig.2.12. Rayleigh’s Criterion

 In Fig. 2.12, A and B are the central maxima of the diffraction patterns of two spectral lines of
wavelengths λ1 and λ2. The difference in the angle of diffraction is large and the two images
can be seen as separate ones.
 The angle of diffraction corresponding to the central maximum of the image B is greater than
the angle of diffraction corresponding to the first minimum at the right of A. Hence the two
spectral lines will appear well resolved.

2.16. Resolving Power of a Plane Diffraction Grating

 The resolving power of a grating is defined as the ratio of the wavelength of any spectral line
to the difference in wavelength between this line and a neighboring line such that the two lines
appear to be just resolved. Thus, the resolving power of a grating appears to be just resolved.
λ
Thus, the resolving power of a grating = dλ …(1)
 In Fig. 2.15, XY is the grating surface and MN is the field of view of the telescope, P 1 is the nth
primary maximum of a spectral line of wavelength λ at an angle of diffraction θ n. P2 is the nth
primary maximum of a second spectral line of wavelength λ + dλ at a diffracting angle θ n + dθ. P1
and P2 are the spectral lines in the n th order. These two spectral lines according to Rayleigh, will
appear resolved if the position of P 2 also corresponds to the first minimum of P 1.
The direction of the nth primary maximum for a wavelength λ is given by
(a + b) sinθn= nλ ...(2)
The direction of the nth primary maximum for a wavelength (λ + dλ) is given by
(a + b) sin (θn+ dθ) = n (λ + dλ) ...(3)
 The two lines will appear just resolved if the angle of diffraction (θ n+ dθ) also corresponds to the
direction of the first secondary minimum after the n th primary maximum at P1 (corresponding to
 λ
wavelength λ). This is possible if the extra path difference introduced is N
where N is the total
number of lines on the grating surface.
λ
(a + b) sin (θn+ dθ) = nλ + ...(4)
N
Equating the right hand sides of Eqn. (2.21) and Eqn. (2.22)
λ λ
n (λ + dλ) = nλ + N; n, dλ = N
λ
dλ
= nN …(5)

Fig.2.13. Resolving power of Plane transmission grating

λ
The quantity dλ = nN measures the resolving power of a grating.Thus, it is independent of the grating
constant. The resolving power is directly proportional to the order of the spectrum and the total numberof
lines on the grating surface.

TWO MARKS
1. What is interference of light?
When two light waves from the same sources superimposes on each other then the resultant
amplitude in the region of superposition differ from the amplitude of the individual waves. This modification
of light energy i.e. Change in amplitude is called as interference.
2. What are the conditions for two light waves to interfere?
 There must be two waves which are coherent in nature
 The waves should have constant phase difference or zero phase difference.
 The waves should travel along same direction with constant velocity.
3. What do you understand by resolving power of a grating?
It is defined as the ratio of the wavelength of any spectral lines to the difference in wavelength
between this line and the neighbouring line such that the two lines appear to be just resolved.
λ
Resolving power of grating = dλ = nN. where, n-order of spectrum and N – Total number of lines per
grating.
4. State super position principle.
It states that the resultant displacement of the particle acted upon by two or more wave simultaneously is
equal to the algebraic sum of the displacement of the particle due to the individual waves.
5. Define Resolving power of prism.
It is defined as the ratio of the wavelength of any spectral lines to the difference in wavelength
between this line and the neighbouring line such that the two lines appear to be just resolved.
λ dµ dµ
Resolving power of prism = dλ = t dλ. Where, t-base of the prism and dλ
– rate of change of refractive
index with respect to wavelength for the given material.
6. Define Dispersive power of grating.
It is defined as the ratio of the difference in the angle of diffraction of any two neighbouring spectral
lines to the difference in wavelength between the two spectral lines. (dθ/dλ). It can also be defined as the
difference in the angle of diffraction per unit change in wavelength.
7. What are the uses of Michelson interferometer?
i) It is used to determine the wavelength of given monochromatic source.
ii) Refractive index and thickness of transparent material.
iii) Resolution of the spectral lines.
8. Define diffraction.
When light falls on obstacles or small apertures whose size is comparable with the wavelength of
light, there is a deviation from straight line propagation, the light bends round the corners of the obstacles.
This bending of light is called diffraction.

9. Explain the term “diffraction grating”.

It consists of a large number of equidistant and very narrow slits and is constructed by ruling grooves with a
diamond point. The rulings are equidistant and are of equal thickness. The ruled grooves are opaque while
the space between any two adjacent grooves is transparent.
10. List out the differences between the dispersive power and resolving power of a grating.
 It is defined as the ratio of the difference in the angle of diffraction of any two neighbouring spectral
lines to the difference in wavelength between the two spectral lines. (dθ/dλ). It can also be defined as the
difference in the angle of diffraction per unit change in wavelength.
 It is defined as the ratio of the wavelength of any spectral line to the difference in wavelength
between this line and a neighbouring line such that the two lines appear to be just resolved. Resolving
power of a grating=λ/dλ
11.Define resolving power of a grating and optical activity.
 It is defined as the ratio of the wavelength of any spectral line to the difference in wavelength
between this line and a neighbouring line such that the two lines appear to be just resolved. Resolving
power of a grating=λ/dλ.
 The property of rotating the plane of vibration and also the plane of polarization of polarized light by
certain substances like quartz, cane sugar is called optical activity and the angle through which the plane of
polarization is rotated is known as angle of rotation.
12. Distinguish between interference and diffraction.
 When two light waves from the same sources superimposes on each other then the resultant
amplitude in the region of superposition differs from the amplitude of the individual waves. This modification
of light energy i.e. Change in amplitude is called as interference.
 When light falls on obstacles or small apertures whose size is comparable with the wavelength of
light, there is a deviation from straight line propagation, the light bends round the corners of the obstacles.
This bending of light is called diffraction.
13. Explain the term’ Resolving power ‘of an optical instrument.
Resolving power or resolution of an instrument is the ability to show the two closer objects as
separated ones with proper magnification.

Problems

1. In the Michelson interferometer arrangement, if one of the mirrors is moved by 0.04 mm,
125 fringes cross the field of view. Calculate the wavelength of light used.

Solution:

d = 0.04 mm = 0.04  103m, n = 125

2d 20.04  103
wavelength of light  = n
= 125
= 6.4 107 = 6400 Å

2. In Michelson interferometer experiment 200 circular fringes cross the field of view when the
movable mirror is displaced through a distance 0.0589 mm. Calculate the wavelength of the
monochromatic source used.
3. Fringes of equal inclination are observed in a Michelson interferometer. As one mirror is
moved by 1mm and 3650 fringes are cross the field of view. Calculate wavelength of light.
4. A shift of 450 fringes is observed when the movable mirror of Michelson interferometer is
shifted by 0.1572 mm. Calculate the wavelength of the light.
5. In a plane transmission grating the angle of diffraction for 2ndorder maxima for wavelength
5
5 10 cm is 30˚. Calculate the number of lines in one centimeter of grating surface.

Solution:
n = 2,  = 5 105 cm
1
Grating element (a+b) = N
 Where N is the number of lines per cm

1 sin 30˚ 1 1
N = (a+b) = = 2[ ]= 5000 per cm.
n 25 105

6. When a thin film of glass of refractive index 1.5 is interposed in the path of one of the
interfering beams of the Michelson’s interferometer, a shift of 30 fringes of sodium light is
observed across the field of view. If the thickness of the air film is 0.018 mm, calculate the
wavelength of the light used.

Solution :
µ = 1.5, N = 30, t = 0.018 mm = 0.0018 cm,  = ?

Now 2(µ-1) t = N
2(µ−1) t 2(1.5−1)0.0018
or = 𝑁
= 30
= 6  105cm

7. Calculate the minimum number of lines in a grating which will just resolve the sodium lines
in the first order spectrum. The wavelengths are 5890 Å and 5896 Å.
Solution:
 = 5890 Å = 5890 1010m, d = 5896  5890 = 6 Å = 6 1010m, n = 1

Resolving power = = nN
d

1  1 5890
N= [ ]= [ ] = 982 approximately
n d 1 6

Questions
Part A
1. Distinguish between polarized and unpolarized light.
2. What is meant by diffraction of light?
3. Explain the resolving power and dispersive power of the optical instrument.
4. State Rayleigh’s criteria for resolution of spectral lines.
5. What are the conditions for two light waves to interference?

Part B
1. Explain the construction, types of fringes and applications of Michelson interferometer.
2. Obtain an expression for the dispersive power of the grating, resolving power of grating and prism.