Interference of Light

Transcription

1 Lecture 23 Chapter 22 Physics II Wave Optics: Interference of Light Course website: Lecture Capture:

2 Today, we are going to talk about light. Newton believed that light consists of particles corpuscles. But Huygens thought that light is wave. The controversy between Newton and Huygens about the nature of light was settled in 1801 when Young demonstrated convincingly that light shows all the characteristic of waves. Models of Light The wave model: Under many circumstances, light exhibits the same behavior as sound or water waves. The study of light as a wave is called wave optics. The ray model: The properties of prisms, mirrors, and lenses are best understood in terms of light rays. The ray model is the basis of ray optics. The photon model: In the quantum world, light behaves like neither a wave nor a particle. Instead, light consists of photons that have both wave-like and particle-like properties. This is the quantum theory of light. But today we will only focus on the wave character.

3 Diffraction of Water Waves A water wave, after passing through an opening, spreads out to fill the space behind the opening. This well-known spreading of waves is called diffraction.

4 Young s Double-Slit Experiment These experiment is similar. The nature of waves is different. This experiment with two sources of light is equivalent to the waves emitted by two loudspeakers, so those results can be used here.

5 Light wave (laser: λ, f ) d A S B θ Analyzing Double-Slit Interference C θ θ θ zooms in Since L>>d, the paths from the two slits at angle θ are ALMOST parallel screen P L O _ = 2 Inherent phase difference: The wave from the lower slit travels an extra distance: Δ sin Since angles are small sin It s easier to measure distances than angles: θ y :, 0,1,2, Conditions for constructive interference (positions of bright fringes)

6 Similar for dark fringes Analyzing Double-Slit Interference II 1 2, 0,1,2, Let s find distance between fringes: Conditions for destructive interference (positions of dark fringes) Δ 1, 0,1,2, Conditions for constructive interference (positions of bright fringes) There is no dependence on m, so they are equally spaced bright fringes dark fringes

7 ConcepTest 1 Double-Slit Interference I A laboratory experiment produces a double-slit interference pattern on a screen. If the slits are moved closer together, the bright fringes will be A) Closer together B) In the same positions C) Farther apart D) There will be no fringes because the conditions for interference won t be satisfied. y L d distance between fringes and d is smaller, so y. Is larger

8 ConcepTest 2 Double-Slit Interference II A laboratory experiment produces a double-slit interference pattern on a screen. If the screen is moved farther away from the slits, the fringes will be A) Closer together B) In the same positions C) Farther apart D) Fuzzy and out of focus. y L d distance between fringes and d is smaller, so y. Is larger

9 Intensity of the Double-Slit Interference Remember (Ch.34) that the intensity of a wave is proportional to square of a wave amplitude We got in the previous class 2 the previous slide: Δ sin cos cos The intensity of the double-slit interference pattern at position y is:

10 Example with a demonstration? Light wave (laser: λ, f )

11 ConcepTest 3 A laboratory experiment produces a double-slit interference pattern on a screen. If the left slit is blocked, the screen will look like Double-slit interference III blocked

12 Diffraction Grating Suppose we were to replace the double slit with an opaque screen that has N closely spaced slits. A large number of equally spaced parallel slits is called a diffraction grating.

13 The Diffraction Grating The figure shows a diffraction grating in which N slits are equally spaced a distance d apart. This is a top view of the grating, as we look down on the experiment, and the slits extend above and below the page. When illuminated from one side, each of these slits becomes the source of a light wave that diffracts, or spreads out, behind the slit. A practical grating will have hundreds or even thousands of slits. Physics and math are the same as for a double-slit experiment Bright fringes will occur at angles m, such that:

14 The Diffraction Grating It s easier to measure distances on the screen than angles: θ y The y-positions of these fringes will occur at: screen θ 2 θ 1 The integer m is called the order of the diffraction.

15 Bright spot intensity We had two waves in the double-slit experiment Now with N slits, the wave amplitude at the points of constructive interference is Na. Because intensity depends on the square of the amplitude, the intensities of the bright fringes are: Not only do the fringes get brighter as N increases, they also get narrower.

16 Measuring wavelength emitted by a diode laser (with a demonstration) Light from a diode laser passes through a diffraction grating having 300 slits per millimeter. The interference pattern is viewed on a wall 2.5 m behind the grating. Calculate the wavelength of the laser.

17 Grating Spectrometer Light wave (λ 1, λ 2 ) If the incident light consists of two slightly different wavelengths, each wavelength will be diffracted at a slightly different angle. Diffraction gratings are used for measuring the wavelengths of light (Grating Spectrometer)

18 What you should read Chapter 22 (Knight) Sections

19 Thank you See you on Tuesday