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13.S: Interference (Summary)

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    32272
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    Key Terms

    coherent waveswaves are in phase or have a definite phase relationship
    fringesbright and dark patterns of interference
    incoherentwaves have random phase relationships
    interferometerinstrument that uses interference of waves to make measurements
    monochromaticlight composed of one wavelength only
    Newton’s ringscircular interference pattern created by interference between the light reflected off two surfaces as a result of a slight gap between them
    orderinteger m used in the equations for constructive and destructive interference for a double slit
    principal maximumbrightest interference fringes seen with multiple slits
    secondary maximumbright interference fringes of intensity lower than the principal maxima
    thin-film interferenceinterference between light reflected from different surfaces of a thin film

    Key Equations

    Constructive interference\(\Delta l = m\lambda\), for m = 0, ±1, ±2, ±3…
    Destructive interference\(\Delta l = (m + \frac{1}{2})\lambda\), for m = 0, ±1, ±2, ±3…
    Path length difference for waves from two slits to a common point on a screen\(\Delta l = d \, sin \, \theta\)
    Constructive interference\(d \, sin \, \theta = m \lambda\), for m = 0, ±1, ±2, ±3…
    Destructive interference\(d \, sin \, \theta = (m + \frac{1}{2})\lambda\), for m = 0, ±1, ±2, ±3…
    Distance from central maximum to the m-th bright fringe\(y_m = \frac{m\lambda D}{d}\)
    Displacement measured by a Michelson interferometer\(\Delta d = m \frac{\lambda_0}{2}\)

    Summary

    3.1: Young's Double-Slit Interference

    • Young’s double-slit experiment gave definitive proof of the wave character of light.
    • An interference pattern is obtained by the superposition of light from two slits.

    3.2: Mathematics of Interference

    • In double-slit diffraction, constructive interference occurs when \(dsinθ=mλ\) (for \(m=0,±1,±2,±3…\)), where d is the distance between the slits, \(θ\) is the angle relative to the incident direction, and m is the order of the interference.
    • Destructive interference occurs when \(dsinθ=(m+\frac{1}{2})λ\) for \(m=0,±1,±2,±3,…\)

    3.3: Multiple-Slit Interference

    • Interference from multiple slits (\(N>2\)) produces principal as well as secondary maxima.
    • As the number of slits is increased, the intensity of the principal maxima increases and the width decreases.

    3.4: Interference in Thin Films

    • When light reflects from a medium having an index of refraction greater than that of the medium in which it is traveling, a \(180°\) phase change (or a \(λ/2\) shift) occurs.
    • Thin-film interference occurs between the light reflected from the top and bottom surfaces of a film. In addition to the path length difference, there can be a phase change.

    3.5: The Michelson Interferometer

    • When the mirror in one arm of the interferometer moves a distance of \(λ/2\) each fringe in the interference pattern moves to the position previously occupied by the adjacent fringe.
    Contributors

    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).


    This page titled 13.S: Interference (Summary) is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax.

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