#Light diffraction series

Monochromatic light is incident upon a series of equally small, equally spaced, equally shaped openings or obstacles.Multiple slit interference or multiple source interference.Note how the fringes are most apparent in the case of the narrowest opening. Self interference of laser light through a vertical opening of decreasing width projected onto a screen (the back of a bookshelf). An interference pattern arises from the interference of light waves from extreme ends of the opening or opposite sides of the obstacle.Light diffracts through the opening or around the obstacle.Monochromatic light is incident upon a single opening or obstacle.Single slit interference or single source interference or self interference.Do not click on the animations if you have photosensitive epilepsy or a similar condition. The sources are closer together in the image on the right. Interference can be produced for other shaped openings, so in general an interference pattern is produced.ĭouble source interference.The overlapping light waves combine to produce interference fringes (parallel bright and dark bands) when projected onto a flat surface (often called a screen).Monochromatic light is incident on an opaque barrier with two parallel, narrow openings (often called slits).It was first performed by the English scientist Thomas Young at the end of the 18th century and is often called Young's double slit experiment.This was the original experiment that showed that light is a wave.Double slit interference or double source interference.Diffraction and interference occur together in many situations.This is known as the principle of linear superposition.The resulting disturbance is the sum of the individual disturbances at every point in space and time.When waves occupy the same place at the same time they interfere or superpose.You can hear around corners, but you can't see around them.Diffraction is more easily observed for sound than light in everyday experience.Sound waves are millions of times longer than light waves.Penumbra: a region of partial shadow the source of the wave is partially obscured.

$light diffraction$

Umbra: a region of total shadow the source of the wave is completely obscured.A shadow is a region behind an obstacle into which a wave does not easily diffract.is most apparent when the size of the obstacle or opening ( a) and the wavelength of the wave ( λ) are of the same order ( a ~ λ).is the bending or spreading of a wave around an obstacle or through an opening.

$light diffraction$