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Wa0004.

The document provides an overview of wave optics, specifically focusing on interference, coherent sources, and their characteristics. It explains the concepts of constructive and destructive interference, the conditions necessary for obtaining a steady interference pattern, and examples of coherent sources like lasers. Additionally, it outlines the importance of monochromatic light and the need for coherent light sources in interference experiments.

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11 views16 pages

Wa0004.

The document provides an overview of wave optics, specifically focusing on interference, coherent sources, and their characteristics. It explains the concepts of constructive and destructive interference, the conditions necessary for obtaining a steady interference pattern, and examples of coherent sources like lasers. Additionally, it outlines the importance of monochromatic light and the need for coherent light sources in interference experiments.

Uploaded by

raza0iop
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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For PDF notes Join Telegram Channel link given in description

ENGG. PHYSICS

(BAS-101/201)
UNIT 3
WAVE OPTICS
TOPICS- INTERFERENCE
PREPARED BY: LALIT SIR
For PDF notes Join Telegram Channel link given in description
SYLLABUS
Coherent sources, Interference in uniform and wedge shaped thin films,
Necessity of extended sources, Newton’s Rings and its applications,
Introduction to diffraction, Fraunhoffer diffraction at single slit and
double slit, Absent spectra, Diffraction grating, Spectra with grating,
Dispersive power, Resolving power, Rayleigh’s criterion of resolution,
Resolving power of grating.

For PDF notes Join Telegram Channel link given in description


Interference
One of the fundamental properties of light is its ability to interfere with itself.
Most people observe optical interferences on a daily basis, but don’t quite know
how this phenomenon actually occurs. Some examples that people can relate to is
a film of oil on water or a soap bubble that reflects a variety of beautiful colours
when natural or artificial light is shone upon it. This dynamic interplay of colours
derives from the simultaneous reflection of light from both the inside and outside
surfaces of the bubble. The two surfaces are very close together (only a few
microns thick) and light reflected from the inner surface interferes both
constructively and destructively.
Interference
Interference, in physics, the net effect of the combination
of two or more wave trains moving on inter secting or
coincident paths. T he effect is that of the addition of
the amplitudes of the individual waves at each point
affected by more than one wave.
What are Coherent Sources?
 If the waves emitted from the two light sources have the same frequency and
constant phase difference, then the two sources are said to be coherent sources.

 It is possible to have the interference of light with coherent sources. Here, the
randomly phased light waves will constantly produce dark and bright fringes at every
point.
 But it cannot be noted since it occurs randomly. A point may have a dark fringe at one
moment and bright fringe at the next moment. So, this phenomenon will eliminate
the interference effect and the observer can visualize only an average brightness value.
As an observer cannot observe, the interference is not said to be sustained
interference.
Characteristics of Coherent Sources
The important characteristic of coherent sources is listed below in detail.

 The wave generated from the sources should have a constant or zero phase
difference.

 The waves should have a single frequency.


The waves should be monochromatic in nature.
Example for Coherent Sources
 Laser beam is an important example of a coherent source of light. Here, the light emitted from the
laser will have the same phase and frequency.

 Sound waves is an another important example of coherent sources. Here, the electrical signal
generated by the sound waves will travel at the same frequency and phase.
I f t w o o f t h e c o m p o n e n t s a r e o f t h e
same frequency and phase (i.e., they vibrate at the same rate
and are maximum at the same time), the wave amplitudes are
reinforced, producing constructive interference.

But if the two waves are out of phase by 1/2 period (i.e., one is
minimum when the other is maximum), the result is destr uctive
interference.
Types of Interference
The interference of light waves is mainly classified into two types. They are given below.

 Constructive interference

 Destructive interference
Constructive Interference If the crest of one wave falls on the crest of another wave,
then the amplitude of the wave became maximum and it forms the constructive
interference of light. Here, the resultant waves will have the same phase and the same
displacement.

Destructive Interference If the crest of one wave falls on the dip of another wave, then
the amplitude of the wave becomes minimum. This phenomenon is called destructive
interference. Here, the phase and displacement of the resultant wave are not the same.
When two stones are dropped into a pool of water, waves spread
out from each source, and interference occurs where they
overlap. Constructive interference results where the crest of
one coincides with the crest of the other.
Interference
The conditions necessary for obtaining well defined and steady interference pattern:

The two sources of light should be coherent:


This is the essential condition for getting a sustained interference pattern. As we have seen, the waves
emitted by two coherent sources are always in phase or have a constant phase difference between them
at all times. If the phases and phase differences vary with time, the positions of maxima and minima will
also change with time and the interference pattern will not be steady. For this reason, it is preferred that
the two secondary sources used in the interference experiment are derived from a single original source.

The light should be monochromatic:


As can be seen from the condition for bright and dark fringes, the position of these
fringes as well as the width of the fringes depend on the wavelength of light and the
fringes of different colours are not coincident. The resultant pattern contains coloured,
overlapping bands.
The two interfering waves must have the same amplitude.
Only if the amplitudes are equal, the intensity of dark fringes
(destructive interference) is zero and the contrast between bright
and dark fringes will be maximum.

The two interfering waves must have the same amplitude.


Only if the amplitudes are equal, the intensity of dark fringes
(destructive interference) is zero and the contrast between bright
and dark fringes will be maximum.
The two waves should be in the same state of polarization: This is
necessary only if polarized light is used for the experiment.

The two light sources should be narrow:


If the slits are broad, the distances from different points along the slit to a
given point on the screen are significantly different and therefore, the
waves coming through the same slit will interfere among themselves,
causing blurring of the interference pattern.

The interfering light waves should be in the same state of polarization:


Otherwise, the points where the waves meet in opposite phase will not be
completely dark and the interference pattern will not be distinct.

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