$order of diffraction definition$ $order of diffraction definition$

The diffraction pattern of two slits of width a that are separated by a distance d is the interference pattern of two point sources separated by d multiplied by the diffraction pattern of a slit of width a. Although the details of that calculation can be complicated, the final result is quite simple: This gives the intensity at any point on the screen. That is, across each slit, we place a uniform distribution of point sources that radiate Huygens wavelets, and then we sum the wavelets from all the slits. To calculate the diffraction pattern for two (or any number of) slits, we need to generalize the method we just used for a single slit.

$order of diffraction definition$

In this section, we study the complications to the double-slit experiment that arise when you also need to take into account the diffraction effect of each slit. However, if you make the slit wider, Figure 4.10(b) and (c) show that you cannot ignore diffraction.

$order of diffraction definition$

Therefore, it was reasonable to leave out the diffraction effect in that chapter. If the slit is smaller than the wavelength, then Figure 4.10(a) shows that there is just a spreading of light and no peaks or troughs on the screen. We assumed that the slits were so narrow that on the screen you saw only the interference of light from just two point sources. When we studied interference in Young’s double-slit experiment, we ignored the diffraction effect in each slit. Determine the relative intensities of interference fringes within a diffraction pattern.Describe the combined effect of interference and diffraction with two slits, each with finite width.By the end of this section, you will be able to:

$order of diffraction definition$

Order of diffraction definition