Optical Diffraction & Interference Patterns Explained | Chapter 36 of University Physics
Optical Diffraction & Interference Patterns Explained | Chapter 36 of University Physics Chapter 36 delves into diffraction—the bending and spreading of light waves—and the interference patterns that arise when waves overlap. From single-slit fringes to holography, these phenomena reveal the wave nature of light and underpin technologies like spectroscopy and microscopy. Watch the full video summary here for animated demonstrations of diffraction and interference. Fresnel vs. Fraunhofer Diffraction Diffraction can be classified by distance: Fresnel (near-field): wavefronts are curved; pattern depends on source-screen geometry. Fraunhofer (far-field): wavefronts are effectively planar; patterns are simpler to analyze via Fourier optics. Single-Slit Diffraction Light passing through a slit of width a produces a central bright fringe flanked by dimmer side fringes. The minima occur at angles satisfying: a sin θ = m λ , where m = ±1, ±2, … . The intensity distr...