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Chapter 4 Diffraction of Light

Chapter 4 discusses the phenomenon of diffraction, first discovered by Francesco Maria Grimaldi and later explained by Augustin Jean Fresnel through wave theory. It covers the types of diffraction, specifically Fresnel and Fraunhofer, and introduces the concept of plane transmission gratings along with the grating equation. Additionally, it explores Rayleigh's criterion for resolving power and the dispersive power of gratings in optical instruments.

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17 views4 pages

Chapter 4 Diffraction of Light

Chapter 4 discusses the phenomenon of diffraction, first discovered by Francesco Maria Grimaldi and later explained by Augustin Jean Fresnel through wave theory. It covers the types of diffraction, specifically Fresnel and Fraunhofer, and introduces the concept of plane transmission gratings along with the grating equation. Additionally, it explores Rayleigh's criterion for resolving power and the dispersive power of gratings in optical instruments.

Uploaded by

Adharsh paul
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 4

DIFFRACTION
Introduction
• Diffraction of light was discovered by Italian Scientist Francesco Maria Grimaldi.
• Phenomenon was known to Huygens and Newton, but both could not explain the diffraction.
• In 1815, Augustin Jean Fresnel succeeded in explaining the phenomenon based on wave theory.
• The Phenomenon of bending of light around the
edge of an obstacle or the encroachment of light
with in the geometrical shadow is known as
diffraction.
Diffraction of light classified in to two:
a. Fresnel Diffraction
b. Fraunhofer Diffraction.

Fresnel and Fraunhofer Diffraction:

Plane Transmission grating:


• A diffraction grating consist of a very large
number of extremely narrow parallel slits
separated by equal opaque spaces.
• A plane transmission grating is one by
ruling fine lines at equal distance on
optically plane glass plate.
• Transmission gratings used in lab usually
contains 6000 line per cm or 15000 lines
per inch.
• Hence the width of the slit is of the order of
wavelength of visible light.
Grating Equation:
• Consider a plane transmission grating XY,
let ‘a’ be the width of the slit and ‘b’ be
the width of the opaque part.
• The distance (a+b) is called the grating
element.
• Points separated by an integral multiple of
(a+b) is known as corresponding points.
• Let a plane wavefront be incident normally
on the grating.
• Each point on the slit will send out
secondary wavelets in all directions.

• Most of the secondary wavelets from the slit will travel the same direction as incident light.
• When focused with a convex lens, they will give a line of maximum intensity on the screen at the
focal plane of the lens. This is called central maximum.
• The position of the central maximum is independent of the wavelength of the light used.
• Part of the light will diffract at the slits in different directions as width of each slit is of the order of
the wavelength of light.
• Consider the wavelets originating from the corresponding points A and B and proceeding along AM
and BN at an angle ϴ with the normal AK.
• The path difference between the wavelets originating from A and B is BK.
AK = (a+b) sin ϴ

If (a+b) sin ϴ = nλ
wavelets reinforce and obtain constructive band.
• Angles of diffraction corresponding to the maxima of different orders can be obtained by putting n =
1,2,3….
• Either side of the central maxima of different orders are obtained symmetrically.
• From the equation, it is clear that diffraction of angle ϴ is different for different wavelength.
• Let N be the number of lines in one meter of the grating.
N (a+b) = 1
1
Grating element or grating constant, (a+b) =
𝑁
1
Sin ϴ = nλ
𝑁
Sin ϴ = Nnλ -----(1)
Equation (1) is known as Grating Equation.

Rayleigh’s Criterion:

• When a point object is imaged using a


circular aperture such as the lens or
the iris of our eye, the image
produced is not a point, rather a
diffraction pattern. This is true,
mainly when the size of the object is
comparable to the wavelength of
light.
• A circular aperture creates a
diffraction pattern of concentric rings
that grow dimmer as we move away
from the center. These are known
as Airy discs.
• Because of the airy discs, point sources
close to one another can overlap and
produce a blurred image.
• To obtain a good image, point sources must
be sufficiently far apart that their diffraction
pattern do not overlap.
• According to Rayleigh’s criterion two
images should be regarded as separate
(resolve) if the central maximum of one
pattern falls over the first minimum of the
other.
• The minimum resolvable separation is equal
to the radius of the Airy’s disc or radius of
the first dark ring.
Resolving Power:
• The capacity of an optical instrument to show separate images of very closely placed two object is
called resolving power.
• Resolving power of a diffraction grating is defined as its ability to form separate diffraction maxima
of two close wavelengths.
• If λ and λ+dλ are wavelengths of two neighboring spectral line, the resolving power of grating is the
λ
ratio dλ.

• The resolving power of grating,


λ
𝑹= = 𝒏𝑵
dλ
where n – order of the spectrum
N – number of lines(rulings) per unit length.

Dispersive Power of Grating:


• The dispersive power of a grating is defined as the change in angle of diffraction (ϴ) for unit change
of wavelength (λ).
• Grating equation,

𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 𝑛𝑁𝜆
On differentiating,

𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑑𝜃 = 𝑛𝑁𝑑𝜆


Dispersive power of grating,
𝑑𝜃 𝑛𝑁
=
𝑑𝜆 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃

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