Diffraction

Diffraction occurs due to mutual interference / superposition of secondary wavelets emanating from portion of
primary wave-front, which are allowed to pass through diffracting element i.e., an aperture or obstacle. Consequently it
is the phenomenon of bending of light waves around corners of an obstacle or an aperture placed in its path and their
intensity spreading into the region of geometrical shadow regions.
Diffraction becomes significant when the dimension of the aperture or obstacle (a) are comparable to the
wavelength of light (λ).
i.e., if λ ≥ a  Very Significant Diffraction Occurs.
If λ ~ a  Less Significant Diffraction Occurs.
If λ ≤ a  No Diffraction Occurs.

Types of Diffraction :
1. Fraunhofer Diffraction : This type of diffraction occurs when the Source and Screen are at infinite distance from
diffracting element such that the incident and diffracted wave-fronts are plane waves.
2. Fresnel Diffraction : This type of diffraction occurs when the source or screen or both are at finite distance
from diffracting element thereby the incident waves are dependent on the nature of source i.e., spherical waves
or cylindrical waves.

Plane Transmission Diffraction Grating – Conditions for Maxima and Minima :

Diffraction grating consists of a large number of parallel slits of the same width that are separated by equal
opaque spaces arranged on plane surface, such grating called as plane transmission grating.
Let d1 = width of each slit ;
d2 = width of each opaque width between the successive slits
(d1 + d2) = Grating Element
If there are N-slits in plane transmission grating, the path
difference between secondary waves from consecutive slits
is (d1+d2) Sin θ . where θ be the diffraction angle.

2π
The Phase Difference = ( d + d ) Sinθ = 2 α (say)
λ 1 2
Thus, the amplitude in a direction of diffraction angle θ
is the resultant amplitude due N-Slits, each slit contributes
A Sinβ
amplitude ( ) with a common phase difference given
β
2π
by ( d + d ) Sinθ = 2 α (say)
λ 1 2
A Sinβ
The Resultant field E = ( ) [ Sin ωt +sin ( ωt +2 α ) +sin ( ωt +4 α ) +..+sin (ωt + ( N−1 ) 2 α )¿
β
A Sinβ sin Nα
On simplifying , E=( ) .( ) . Sin [ωt−φ ¿ ;
β Sinα
( N −1 ) 2 α
where φ=
2
A Sinβ sin Nα
The Resultant Amplitude Eθ = ( ) .( )
β Sinα
The Resultant Intensity due to plane transmission diffraction grating along the diffraction angle θ is given by
 A Sinβ 2 sin Nα 2
I =( ¿¿ . ( )
β Sinα

A Sinβ 2 sin Nα 2
Condition for Principle Maxima : I =( ¿¿ . ( )
β Sinα
sin Nα
If α = ± nπ then,Sin Nα = 0 and Sin α =0 then ( ) be the indeterminate, by applying L’Hospital rule
Sinα
lim
α →± nπ Sinα(
sin Nα ❑ N cos Nα
= )
Cosα
=± N

Hence,
A Sinβ 2 2
I =( ¿¿ . N
β
This gives the Intensity of Principle maxima.
Thus, the condition for Principle Maxima,
2π
α = ± nπ ; but ( d + d ) Sinθ = 2 α
λ 1 2
π
( d +d ) Sinθ=± nπ
λ 1 2
∴ ( d 1 +d 2 ) Sinθ=± nλ ; where n= 0,1,2,3,… be the condition for Principle Maxia

A Sinβ 2 sin Nα 2
Condition for Minima : I =( ¿¿ . ( )
β Sinα
If Sin Nα =0 but Sin α ≠ 0 then Intensity I = 0.
2π
Hence, the condition for Minima Nα = ±m but ( d + d ) Sinθ = 2 α
λ 1 2
π
N ( d +d ) Sinθ=± mπ
λ 1 2
N ( d 1 +d 2 ) Sinθ=± mλ ; where m =1, 2, 3, …(N-1), N+1, N+2,…(2N-1),…(nN-1).
Note : m should take all values except 0, N, 2N, 3N, …nN; where it satisfies the condition for principle
maxima.
Condition for Secondary Maxima :
As per condition for Principle maxima , At n = 0  Zeorth order Principle Maxima; n=1  First order Principle Maxima
As per the condition for minima, In between above two principle maxima, them there exist ( N-1 ) number of minimas
prevail, i.e., m= 1, 2, 3, … (N-1) minima exist.
In order to two identify two successive minima there should be maxima exist in between two minima. Hence, there
should be (N-2) secondary maxima exist in between (N-1) Minima.
dI A Sinβ 2 sin Nα 2
The condition for Secondary maxima =0 ; where I = ( ¿¿ . ( )
dα β Sinα
dI
=¿
dα
Hence, NCosNα . Sinα−Cosα . SinNα=0
NCosNα . Sinα=Cosα . SinNα
tan Nα =N Tanα
 N N
tan Nα = ; sin Nα=
cot α √ N +cot2 α
2

2 2
sin Nα N N
= 2 =
sin α ( N +cot α ) . sin α 1+ ( N −1 ) sin2 α
2 2 2 2

Hence, Intensity of Secondary Maxima

2
A Sinβ 2 N
I2Max = ( ¿¿ .
β 1+ ( N −1 ) sin2 α
2

Intensity of secondary maxima 1

=
Intesity of Principle maxmia 1+ ( N −1 ) sin2 α
2

As the N is very high, the intensity of secondary maxima relative to Principle maxima decreases drastically
become negligible.
Dispersive power of Diffraction Grating :
The condition for Principle Maxima is given by ( d 1 +d 2 ) Sinθ=± nλ
On differentiating with respect of λ
( d 1 +d 2 ) Cosθ . dθ=±n dλ
dθ n
Then, the dispersive power of diffraction grating : =
dλ ( d 1 +d 2 ) Cosθ

Resolving Power of Grating :

Any optical instrument is said to be able to resolve two point objects if the corresponding diffraction
patterns can be distinguished from each other. The ability of an optical instrument to form two separate
diffraction patterns of two closed objects is called its resolving power.
Rayleigh Criterion
The two point sources are resolvable by an optical instrument if central maximum of the diffraction
pattern pertaining to one of them falls over the first minimum of diffraction pattern of the other.
The ability of grating to form separate diffraction maxima
For two very close wavelengths and thereby to resolve the
Two wavelengths is called the resolving power of the grating.
Let, λ and λ+dλ be two closed wavelengths
nth order maxima due to λ  ( d 1 +d 2 ) Sinθ=nλ ;
where n=0, 1, 2, 3,…..
condition for Minima  N ( d 1 +d 2 ) Sinθ=mλ ;
m values are except 0,N,2N,…nN
The minima adjacent to nth Principle Maxima due to λ
N ( d 1 +d 2 ) sin ( θ+dθ )=(nN +1)λ (1)
The nth Principle Maxima due to (λ+dλ) in the direction of (θ+dθ) will be given by
( d 1 +d 2 ) sin ( θ+dθ )=n (λ+ dλ)
N( d 1 +d 2 ) sin ( θ+dθ )=nN ( λ+ dλ) (2)

From equation (1) and (2) ; (nN + 1) λ = nN (λ+dλ)

λ = nN.dλ
 λ
The Resolving Power of grating  =nN
dλ

λ N ( d 1+ d 2) Sinθ
∴ =
dλ λ