Optics: Interference, Diffraction, Polarization adn LASER
Module-II
Questions:1
Descriptive Question and Numerical Problems:
Interference
1. What are the conditions to get sustained interference?
2. What do you mean by interference by division of wavefront and interference by division of
amplitude? Give examples.
3. Prove that in Newton’s ring experiment, the diameters of the dark rings are proportional to
the square root of the natural number.
2 2
Dm −Dn
4. Show that the wavelength of light used in Newton’s ring experiment is λ = 4R(m−n) , where,
Dm and Dn are the diameters of the m-th and n-th dark rings, R is the radius of the plano-
convex lens.
5. In a Newton’s ring experiment, the diameter of a dark ring is measured to be 2 mm. The
medium between the Plano-convex lens and the glass plate is air. What would be the diameter
of the same ring when the air film is replaced by a liquid of refractive index of 1.6?
6. Write down the conditions for maxima and minima in case of Newton’s ring experiment.
7. Why is the centre of Newton’s rings dark for reflected light?
8. Why are Newton’s rings circular in shape?
9. Write down the conditions for the maxima and minima for the interference pattern in a.
parallel b. wedge shape thin film.
10. In Newton’s ring experiment, the diameter of 4th dark ring is 0.306 cm, and the diameter
of the 12th dark ring is 0.530cm. Find the radius of the plano-convex lens if the wavelength of
the light used is 595 nm.
Diffraction
1. For single slit diffraction, find out the expression for intensity pattern. Hence find the
maxima and minima condition of intensity for single slit diffraction pattern. Plot the intensity
pattern and show the graphical representation of maxima and minima.
2. Distinguish between the Fraunhofer and Fresnel classes of diffraction.
3. What is the ‘missing order’ in double slit diffraction pattern? Find out the missing orders
1 CHE-II; Date: 28.11.2025
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for a double slit set up with slit width (i.e. a) 0.16 mm and slit separation of (i.e. b) 0.8 mm.
4. (a) Write down the expression for the intensity of double slit diffraction pattern and write the
physical significance of the terms. Establish the conditions for different maxima and minima.
(b) show that the intensity maxima in double slit diffraction are four times the maximum
intensity in a single slit diffraction pattern.
(c) In a double slit experiment, the slit width is 2 mm and the separation between the slits is
4 mm. Find the missing orders.
5. Write down the intensity expression for a N-slit grating spectrum. Deduce the condition
for principal maxima and show that the intensity of principal maxima is proportional to the
square of the number of slits (N).
Polarization
1. State Brewster’s law in polarization. Show that the angle between reflected and refracted
light is π/2.
2. Find the polarizing angles for a glass of refractive index 1.732. Also, find the angle of
refraction.
3. Explain the terms (a) polarization of light, (b) plane of polarization, (c) plane of vibration.
4. What is a phase-retardation plate? Calculate the thickness of a mica sheet required to make
a quarter-wave plate for λ= 546 nm. The refractive indices for the O-ray and E-ray in mica
are 1.586 and 1.592, respectively.
5. What are positive and negative crystals? Give examples.
6. How can you distinguish between an unpolarized, a circularly polarized and a plane polarized
light?
7. (a) Explain the phenomena of light ‘birefringence’ and give one example of birefringent.
(b) A plane polarized light of wavelength 600 nm changes to a circularly polarized light on
passing through a quartz crystal cut parallel to optic axis. Calculate the minimum thickness
to produce such effect. Given µe − µo = 0.005.
8. Critical angle for refraction for glass to air is 40o . Calculate the polarizing angle for glass.
9. Define with examples: uniaxial crystal, biaxial crystal, positive crystal and negative crystal.
10. What is the Nicol prism? How does it work as a polarizer and analyzer?
LASER
1. Define metastable state and population inversion.
2. What are the differences between ordinary light and laser light?
3. Define spontaneous and stimulated emission in a lasing system.
4. Explain the working principle of He-Ne laser with an energy level diagram. What are the
applications of He-Ne laser?
5. If the wavelength of the radiation of ruby laser is 694.3 nm, what is the energy of a photon
emitted?
6. (a) Write down the properties of spontaneous and stimulated emission. (b) Define Einstein’s
A and B coefficients and deduce their mutual relation.
7. Discuss briefly about the basic components of laser system.
8. Briefly describe how the Ruby laser works.
9. Find the energy difference between two energy levels if the wavelength of the emitted photon
is 632.8 nm. Also calculate the photon flux to get a laser beam of 2 mw.