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# 4.S: Diffraction (Summary)


## Key Terms

 Bragg planes families of planes within crystals that can give rise to X-ray diffraction destructive interference for a single slit occurs when the width of the slit is comparable to the wavelength of light illuminating it diffraction bending of a wave around the edges of an opening or an obstacle diffraction grating large number of evenly spaced parallel slits diffraction limit fundamental limit to resolution due to diffraction hologram three-dimensional image recorded on film by lasers; the word hologram means entire picture (from the Greek word holo, as in holistic) holography process of producing holograms with the use of lasers missing order interference maximum that is not seen because it coincides with a diffraction minimum Rayleigh criterion two images are just-resolvable when the center of the diffraction pattern of one is directly over the first minimum of the diffraction pattern of the other resolution ability, or limit thereof, to distinguish small details in images two-slit diffraction pattern diffraction pattern of two slits of width a that are separated by a distance d is the interference pattern of two point sources separated by d multiplied by the diffraction pattern of a slit of width a width of the central peak angle between the minimum for $$\displaystyle m=1$$ and $$\displaystyle m=−1$$ X-ray diffraction technique that provides the detailed information about crystallographic structure of natural and manufactured materials

## Key Equations

 Destructive interference for a single slit $$\displaystyle a \sin θ=mλ$$ for $$\displaystyle m=±1,±2,±3,...$$ Half phase angle $$\displaystyle β=\frac{ϕ}{2}=\frac{πa \sinθ}{λ}$$ Field amplitude in the diffraction pattern $$\displaystyle E=NΔE_0\frac{\sin β}{β}$$ Intensity in the diffraction pattern $$\displaystyle I=I_0(\frac{\sin β}{β})^2$$ Rayleigh criterion for circular apertures $$\displaystyle θ=1.22\frac{λ}{D}$$ Bragg equation $$\displaystyle mλ=2d \sin θ,m=1,2,3...$$

## Summary

#### 4.1: Single-Slit Diffraction

• Diffraction can send a wave around the edges of an opening or other obstacle.
• A single slit produces an interference pattern characterized by a broad central maximum with narrower and dimmer maxima to the sides.

#### 4.2: Intensity in Single-Slit Diffraction

• The intensity pattern for diffraction due to a single slit can be calculated using phasors as

$$\displaystyle I=I_0(\frac{\sin β}{β})^2$$,

where $$\displaystyle β=\frac{ϕ}{2}=\frac{πa \sin θ}{λ}$$, a is the slit width, $$\displaystyle λ$$ is the wavelength, and $$\displaystyle θ$$ is the angle from the central peak.

#### 4.3: Double-Slit Diffraction

• With real slits with finite widths, the effects of interference and diffraction operate simultaneously to form a complicated intensity pattern.
• Relative intensities of interference fringes within a diffraction pattern can be determined.
• Missing orders occur when an interference maximum and a diffraction minimum are located together.

#### 4.4: Diffraction Gratings

• A diffraction grating consists of a large number of evenly spaced parallel slits that produce an interference pattern similar to but sharper than that of a double slit.
• Constructive interference occurs when $$\displaystyle d \sin θ=mλ$$ for $$\displaystyle m=0,±1,±2,...$$, where d is the distance between the slits, θθ is the angle relative to the incident direction, and m is the order of the interference.

#### 4.5: Circular Apertures and Resolution

• Diffraction limits resolution.
• The Rayleigh criterion states that two images are just resolvable when the center of the diffraction pattern of one is directly over the first minimum of the diffraction pattern of the other.

#### 4.6: X-Ray Diffraction

• X-rays are relatively short-wavelength EM radiation and can exhibit wave characteristics such as interference when interacting with correspondingly small objects.

#### 4.7: Holography

• Holography is a technique based on wave interference to record and form three-dimensional images.
• Lasers offer a practical way to produce sharp holographic images because of their monochromatic and coherent light for pronounced interference patterns.

## Contributors and Attributions

Samuel J. Ling (Truman State University), Jeff Sanny (Loyola Marymount University), and Bill Moebs with many contributing authors. This work is licensed by OpenStax University Physics under a Creative Commons Attribution License (by 4.0).

4.S: Diffraction (Summary) is shared under a CC BY 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax via source content that was edited to conform to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.

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