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4.1: Single-Slit Diffraction

After passing through a narrow aperture (opening), a wave propagating in a specific direction tends to spread out. For example, sound waves that enter a room through an open door can be heard even if the listener is in a part of the room where the geometry of ray propagation dictates that there should only be silence. Similarly, ocean waves passing through an opening in a breakwater can spread throughout the bay inside. (Figure $$\PageIndex{1}$$). The spreading and bending of sound and ocean waves are two examples of diffraction, which is the bending of a wave around the edges of an opening or an obstacle—a phenomenon exhibited by all types of waves.

Figure $$\PageIndex{1}$$: Because of the diffraction of waves, ocean waves entering through an opening in a breakwater can spread throughout the bay. (credit: modification of map data from Google Earth)

The diffraction of sound waves is apparent to us because wavelengths in the audible region are approximately the same size as the objects they encounter, a condition that must be satisfied if diffraction effects are to be observed easily. Since the wavelengths of visible light range from approximately 390 to 770 nm, most objects do not diffract light significantly. However, situations do occur in which apertures are small enough that the diffraction of light is observable. For example, if you place your middle and index fingers close together and look through the opening at a light bulb, you can see a rather clear diffraction pattern, consisting of light and dark lines running parallel to your fingers.

Diffraction through a Single Slit

Light passing through a single slit forms a diffraction pattern somewhat different from those formed by double slits or diffraction gratings, which we discussed in the chapter on interference. Figure $$\PageIndex{2}$$ shows a single-slit diffraction pattern. Note that the central maximum is larger than maxima on either side and that the intensity decreases rapidly on either side. In contrast, a diffraction grating produces evenly spaced lines that dim slowly on either side of the center.

Figure $$\PageIndex{2}$$: Single-slit diffraction pattern. (a) Monochromatic light passing through a single slit has a central maximum and many smaller and dimmer maxima on either side. The central maximum is six times higher than shown. (b) The diagram shows the bright central maximum, and the dimmer and thinner maxima on either side.

The analysis of single-slit diffraction is illustrated in Figure $$\PageIndex{2}$$. Here, the light arrives at the slit, illuminating it uniformly and is in phase across its width. We then consider light propagating onwards from different parts of the same slit. According to Huygens’s principle, every part of the wave front in the slit emits wavelets, as we discussed in The Nature of Light. These are like rays that start out in phase and head in all directions. (Each ray is perpendicular to the wave front of a wavelet.) Assuming the screen is very far away compared with the size of the slit, rays heading toward a common destination are nearly parallel. When they travel straight ahead, as in part (a) of the figure, they remain in phase, and we observe a central maximum. However, when rays travel at an angle θ relative to the original direction of the beam, each ray travels a different distance to a common location, and they can arrive in or out of phase. In part (b), the ray from the bottom travels a distance of one wavelength λ farther than the ray from the top. Thus, a ray from the center travels a distance λ/2 less than the one at the bottom edge of the slit, arrives out of phase, and interferes destructively. A ray from slightly above the center and one from slightly above the bottom also cancel one another. In fact, each ray from the slit interferes destructively with another ray. In other words, a pair-wise cancellation of all rays results in a dark minimum in intensity at this angle. By symmetry, another minimum occurs at the same angle to the right of the incident direction (toward the bottom of the figure) of the light.

Figure $$\PageIndex{3}$$: Light passing through a single slit is diffracted in all directions and may interfere constructively or destructively, depending on the angle. The difference in path length for rays from either side of the slit is seen to be D sin θ.

At the larger angle shown in part (c), the path lengths differ by 3λ/2 for rays from the top and bottom of the slit. One ray travels a distance λ different from the ray from the bottom and arrives in phase, interfering constructively. Two rays, each from slightly above those two, also add constructively. Most rays from the slit have another ray to interfere with constructively, and a maximum in intensity occurs at this angle. However, not all rays interfere constructively for this situation, so the maximum is not as intense as the central maximum. Finally, in part (d), the angle shown is large enough to produce a second minimum. As seen in the figure, the difference in path length for rays from either side of the slit is D sin θ, and we see that a destructive minimum is obtained when this distance is an integral multiple of the wavelength.

Thus, to obtain destructive interference for a single slit,

$\underbrace{D \sin θ = mλ}_{\text{destructive interference}}$

where

• $$m = ±1, ±2, ±3,...$$,
• $$D$$ is the slit width,
• $$λ$$ is the light’s wavelength,
• $$θ$$ is the angle relative to the original direction of the light, and
• $$m$$ is the order of the minimum.

Figure $$\PageIndex{3}$$ shows a graph of intensity for single-slit interference, and it is apparent that the maxima on either side of the central maximum are much less intense and not as wide. This effect is explored in Double-Slit Diffraction.

Figure $$\PageIndex{3}$$: A graph of single-slit diffraction intensity showing the central maximum to be wider and much more intense than those to the sides. In fact, the central maximum is six times higher than shown here.

Example $$\PageIndex{1}$$: Calculating Single-Slit Diffraction

Visible light of wavelength 550 nm falls on a single slit and produces its second diffraction minimum at an angle of 45.0° relative to the incident direction of the light, as in Figure $$\PageIndex{5}$$.

1. What is the width of the slit?
2. At what angle is the first minimum produced?

Figure $$\PageIndex{5}$$: In this example, we analyze a graph of the single-slit diffraction pattern.

Strategy

From the given information, and assuming the screen is far away from the slit, we can use the equation D sin θ = mλ first to find D, and again to find the angle for the first minimum $$\theta_1$$.

Solution

1. We are given that λ=550nm, m=2, and $$\theta_2 = 45.0°$$. Solving the equation $$D \, sin \, \theta = m\lambda$$ for D and substituting known values gives

$D = \frac{m\lambda}{\sin \, \theta_2} = \frac{2(550 \, nm)}{sin \, 45.0°} = \frac{1100 \times 10^{-9} m}{0.707} = 1.56 \times 10^{-6} m. \nonumber$

2. Solving the equation $$D \, sin \, \theta = m\lambda$$ for $$sin \, \theta_1$$ and substituting the known values gives

$sin \, \theta_1 = \frac{m\lambda}{D} = \frac{1(550 \times 10^{-9}m)}{1.56 \times 10^{-6}m}. \nonumber$

Thus the angle $$\theta_1$$ is

$\theta_1 = sin^{-1}0.354 = 20.7°. \nonumber$

Significance

We see that the slit is narrow (it is only a few times greater than the wavelength of light). This is consistent with the fact that light must interact with an object comparable in size to its wavelength in order to exhibit significant wave effects such as this single-slit diffraction pattern. We also see that the central maximum extends 20.7° on either side of the original beam, for a width of about 41°. The angle between the first and second minima is only about 24°(45.0°−20.7°). Thus, the second maximum is only about half as wide as the central maximum.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{1}$$

Suppose the slit width in Example $$\PageIndex{1}$$ is increased to $$1.8 \times 10^{-6} m$$. What are the new angular positions for the first, second, and third minima? Would a fourth minimum exist?

$$17.8^o$$, $$37.7^o$$, $$66.4^o$$; no