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Interference and Diffraction: Division of Wavefront

Interference occurs when two waves meet while traveling through the same medium. Huygen's wave theory explains light as a wave phenomenon and interference as the redistribution of energy when waves combine. There are two main methods of producing interference - division of the wavefront by using elements like slits, mirrors, or lenses, and division of amplitude by parallel reflection or refraction.

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195 views3 pages

Interference and Diffraction: Division of Wavefront

Interference occurs when two waves meet while traveling through the same medium. Huygen's wave theory explains light as a wave phenomenon and interference as the redistribution of energy when waves combine. There are two main methods of producing interference - division of the wavefront by using elements like slits, mirrors, or lenses, and division of amplitude by parallel reflection or refraction.

Uploaded by

vjtiit
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Interference and diffraction

• Interference of light is evidence that light is a wave phenomenon .


• Interference occurs when two (or more) waves meet while travelling along the same
medium .
• The wave theory of light was given by Huygen .
• During the interference of light, energy is redistributed.
• The wavefront originating from a rectilinear slit is called Cylindrical.
• coherent : phase diff is zero .
• To demonstrate the phenomenon of interference : Two sources which emit radiation of
same frequency and have a constant phase difference are required.
• Intensity of light depends upon amplitude.
• Two waves of same amplitude ‘a’ and same frequency are reaching a point
simultaneously. What should be the phase difference between the two waves so that
the amplitude of the resultant wave 0 angle
• Two coherent monochromatic light beams of intensities I and 4I are superposed. The
maximum and minimum possible intensities in the resultant beam are 5I and 3I .
• The maximum intensity produced by two coherent sources with zero phase difference
having intensity I1andI2is I1 + I2+ 2 * ( I1 * I2)^1/2
• Ratio of intensities of two waves is 25:4. Then the ratio of maximum to minimum
intensity will be : 49:9
• Two coherent sources whose intensity ratio is 81:1 produce interference fringes. What
is the ratio of their amplitudes : : 9:1
• constructive interference nλ
• Destructive interference ( 2n+1) λ /2
• Interference can be produced by two following methods
1. Division of wavefront In this method, the wavefront is divided into two parts, either by
reflection, refraction or by diffraction by using mirror, lens, prism or grating. These two parts
of the same wave front travel unequal distances and reunite at some angles, thus producing
interference fringes, e.g. Young’s double slit experiment, Fresnel’s biprism and Lloyd’s mirror.
2. Division of amplitude The amplitude of the incoming beam is divided into two parts, either by
parallel reflection or by refraction. These two parts travel unequal distances and reunite to
produce interference, e.g. Newton’s rings and Michelson’s interferometer.
Analytical Treatment of Interference

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