General Physics I (PHYS 101)

Lecture 12
Interference

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Outline

1 Superposition of two waves

2 Coherent Source

3 Interference

4 Phase difference and path difference:

5 Young’s double slit experiment

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Superposition of two waves

Let us consider two waves with amplitude a1 and a2 having constant

phase difference of δ and frequency ω. In complex form, these waves
are represented as

y1 = a1 eiωt

y2 = a2 ei(ωt+δ )

After superposition, the resultant wave take the form

y = y1 + y2

= a1 eiωt + a2 ei(ωt+δ )
 
=⇒ y = a1 + a2 eiδ eiωt (1)
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Superposition of two waves (contd.)

Let the resultant wave has the amplitude R0 and phase difference with
respect to the first wave is φ , then it can be written as
y = R0 ei(ωt+φ ) = R0 eiφ eiωt . Comparing this with equation (1), we get

R0 eiφ = a1 + a2 eiδ

R0 cos φ + iR0 sin φ = a1 + a2 cos δ + ia2 sin δ (2)

Equating real and imaginary part of equation (2) we get

R0 cos φ = a1 + a2 cos δ (3)

R0 sin φ = a2 sin δ (4)

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Superposition of two waves (contd.)

Squaring and adding equation (3) and (4), we get

R20 = a21 + a22 + 2a1 a2 cos δ (5)

Dividing equation (4) by (3), we get

 
sin φ a2 sin δ a2 sin δ
= =⇒ φ = tan−1 (6)
cos φ a1 + a2 cos δ a1 + a2 cos δ
Since the intensity of a wave is directly proportional to the square of
the amplitude, then in term of intensity equation (5) can be written as
√
I = I1 + I2 + 2 I1 I2 cos δ (7)

where, I ∝ R20 is the intensity of the resultant wave, I1 ∝ a21 is the

intensity of first and I2 ∝ a22 is that of second waves.
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Superposition of two waves (contd.)

Maximum intensity:-
The intensity is maximum when cos δ = 1 =⇒ δ = 2nπ for
n = 0, 1, 2, · · · . That means the intensity is maximum when the
phase difference between superposing waves is equal to the even
integral multiplication of π. The maximum intensity is
√
Imax = I1 + I2 + 2 I1 I2 (8)
√ √
2
or, Imax = I1 + I2 (9)

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Superposition of two waves (contd.)

Minimum intensity:-
The intensity is minimum when cos δ = −1 =⇒ δ = (2n + 1)π
for n = 0, 1, 2, · · · . That means the intensity is minimum when
the phase difference between the superposing waves is odd
integral multiple of π. The minimu intensity is
√
Imin = I1 + I2 − 2 I1 I2 (10)
√ √
2
or, Imin = I1 − I2 (11)

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Superposition of two waves (contd.)

We also have,
√ √
2 
a1 + a2 2

Imax I1 + I2
= √ √
2 = a − a (12)
Imin I1 − I2 1 2

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Coherent Source

Two light sources are said to be coherent if they emit continuous light
waves of the same frequency, nearly equal or equal amplitude and
same or constant phase difference.
The two sources of light must emit radiations of the same color
(wavelength). The phase relation between the waves at the time of
emission rapidly changes with time, not only in different sources but
even in different parts of the same source. As a result there is rapid
change in brightness and darkness, which produce general
illumination. It is not possible to produce interference with two
independent sources which cannot be coherent. Two virtual sources

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Coherent Source (contd.)

formed from a single source can act as coherent sources. Coherent

sources are generally practiced in the following ways

(i) Two virtual images of the same source produced by reflection as

in Fresnel’s Bi-prism.

(ii) One real source and its virtual image produced by reflection as in
Lloyd’s mirror.

(iii) Two real images of the same source produced from refraction as
in Billet’s split lens.

(iv) By dividing the amplitude of a portion of wave front either by

reflection or by refraction as in Newton’s ring and Michelson’s
interferometer.
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Interference

The phenomenon of getting dark and bright fringes due to

superposition of two coherent light sources is called interference.
There are two types of interference, constructive interference and
destructive interference. In this situation the amplitudes and hence the
intensities of superposing waves are equal to each other i.e.
I1 = I2 = I0 (say). As a result, equation (7) becomes

I = I0 + I0 + 2I0 cos δ

=⇒ I = 2I0 (1 + cos δ )
 
2 δ
=⇒ I = 4I0 cos (13)
2

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Interference (contd.)

Constructive interference:-
The phenomenon of getting bright fringes due to superposition
of crest of one wave to crest of the other is called constructive
interference.

Figure 1

The maximum intensity in this situation using (9) is

Imax = 4I0 (14)

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Interference (contd.)

Destructive interference:-
The phenomenon of getting dark fringes due to superposition of
trough of one wave to crest of the other is called destructive
interference.

Figure 2

The minimum intensity in this situation using equation (11) is

Imin = 0.

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Phase difference and path difference:

For phase difference of 2π path difference is λ .

λ
Therefore, for phase difference of δ path difference is 2π δ .
Also, for path difference of λ phase difference is 2π.
2π
So for path difference of x phase difference is λ x.

Bright fringes
The maximum intensity of the resultant wave is I = 4I0 which
occurs for phase difference, δ = 0, 2π, 4π, ..., 2nπ or path
difference equal to 0, λ , 2λ , 3λ , ..., nλ . Thus, for bright fringes
the path difference between the waves should be equal to integral
multiple of wavelength i.e. nλ

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Phase difference and path difference: (contd.)

Dark fringes
The minimum intensity of the resultant wave is I = 0 which
occurs when phase difference, δ = π, 3π, 5π, ..., (2n + 1)π or
λ
path difference equal to λ2 , 3λ 5λ
2 , 2 , ..., (2n + 1) 2 . Thus, for dark
fringes the path difference between the wavesshould be equal  to
λ
half odd integral multiple of wavelength i.e. (2n + 1) .
2

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Phase difference and path difference: (contd.)

Intensity distribution
The intensity of resultant wave
 is given by
  δ
I = 4I0 cos2 δ2 = 4a2 cos2 with a is the amplitude of a
2
superposing wave. The values of maximum and minimum
intensities are 4a2 and 0 respectively. This also confirms that the
intensity of each bright fringe is same and same is true for dark
fringes. The intensity distribution curve is as shown.

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Phase difference and path difference: (contd.)

Figure 3

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Young’s double slit experiment

Consider a source of monochromatic

light S. A and B are two narrow slits of
width d very close to each other as shown
in figure. A screen XY is placed at a dis-
tance D form slits as shown in figure.
Figure 4

Let P be the position of nth bright or dark fringe and θ be the angle
made by NP with NO. A perpendicular AM is drawn to BP. Since A
and B are too close to each other, AM meets NP practically at right
angles such that]BAM = θ . Now, form ∆PNO,

PO xn
tan θ = =
NO D
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Young’s double slit experiment (contd.)

BM BM
And from ∆BAM, sin θ = AB = d . For small angle, sin θ ≈ tan θ .
So,
BM xn
∴ =
d D
xn d
∴ BM =
D
Here BM is the path difference between the waves.

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Young’s double slit experiment (contd.)

Bright fringes:-
Now for bright fringes, path difference (BM) = nλ

xn d
or, = nλ
D
nλ D
∴ xn =
d
This relation gives the distance of nth bright fringe from the
center of the fringe system. For (n − 1)th bright fringe, we can
have
(n − 1)λ D
xn−1 =
d

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Young’s double slit experiment (contd.)

So, the fringe width β is

nλ D (n − 1)λ D
β = xn − xn−1 = −
d d
λD
∴ β=
d

Dark fringes:-
Again for dark fringes, path difference (BM) = (2n + 1) λ2

xn d λ
or, = (2n + 1)
D 2
(2n + 1)λ D
∴ xn =
2d

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Young’s double slit experiment (contd.)

This relation gives the distance of nth dark fringe from the center
of the fringe system. For (n − 1)th dark fringe, we can have

[2(n − 1) + 1]λ D (2n − 1)λ D

xn−1 = =
2d 2d

So, the fringe width β is

(2n + 1)λ D (2n − 1)λ D

β = xn − xn−1 = −
2d 2d
λD
∴ β=
d

Thus, the fringe width for dark and bright fringes are equal i.e.
fringes in Young’s double slit experiment are equally spaced.

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