Engg.

Physies Practicals 71

5.
LASER - DETERMINATION
OF WAVELENGTH LASER LIGHT SOURCE

Expt. No: Date:

AIM
To determine the wavelength of the given laser source of light using grating
APPARATUS REQUIRED
1. Dìode laser 2. Grating 3. Screen, or paper and pencil

FORMULA

Wavelength of the given laser light source

sin 0 metre
Nn

Symbol Explanation Unit

Angle of diffraction degree

Order of diffraction

N Number of lines per metre in the grating lines / m

PROCEDURE
Diode laser is kept horizontally and switched on (extreme care should be taken to
avoid direct exposure of laser light on eyes).

The grating is held normal to the laser beam. This is done by adjusting the grating
n Such a way that the reflected laser beam coincides with beam coming out of the laser
source. (Fig. 5.1)

AIter adjusting for normal incidence, the laser light is exposed to the grating and
it is
The diffractedof different
by grating. The diffracted laser spots are seen on the screen (Fig. 5.2).
right)distance
sides. orders from the centre spot (x,) are measured on both (left and

The distance between the grating and screen (D) is measured. Using the formula,
G is calculated.
70 Physics Laboratory Manual

Grating Screen

-0 order
Laser Source Ist order

Stand
Stand 2nd order
D

Fig. 5.1 Laser Grating

Left Right

Fig. 5.2 DIffraction Pattern

72 Physics Laboratory Mane
ual
8sinNn (nm)

e1
2
+
0Mean
=
metrelines
metre
/ ()

source
10-2
X
=n2=tan
82tan
ight

X
Mean
wavelength
laser
side
Right
given
different
of
Distance
the
the
Cm
=
image from
central
spot
of
(x)
difracted
order X1= =
X2 =
X3 =
X4

the
for
Readings
=
(N)
(D)

screen
metre
tan
81:
Left
side
per
and
different
ofDistance
from
the
grating
grating central
spot

(xn)
orders Cm
in
between
lines =
X] =
X3 =
X
OBSERVATIONS =
X2

of
Distance
Number of diffraction
Order
(n)
2 3

S.No. Unit
1 2 3 .