Wave properties of light. Diffraction

Wave properties of light. DiffractionIf the light is a wave process, along with interference there should also be light diffraction, as it is inherent in any wave motion. However, until now no one has adequately defined the difference between diffraction and interference. The point here is just the tradition, there is no substantial physical difference between these phenomena. The only thing you can say about this is the following: when sources are few, for example two, the result of their joint action is usually called interference, and if there are a lot of sources, then we most often talk about diffraction. Diffraction of light is a phenomenon that occurs when light is disseminated in an environment with pronounced irregularities and is manifested in light dissemination of light in the geometric shadow. Diffraction of light can be observed with a diffraction grating. Diffraction takes place on objects of any size, and not only on those proportionate with the wavelength. As the light wavelength is short, interference maxima are very close to each other, and their intensity decreases rapidly. This impedes observation. Diffraction can be observed well at a distance greater or equal to the ratio of the square diameter of the screen relative to the wavelength. If the distance is much smaller than this ratio, diffraction is not visible and a sharp shadow is produced. Wave properties are manifested if observation is conducted at a distance greater than the ratio of the square size of the object to the wavelength. Diffraction was completely studied in the works of Fresnel. He was also the first who explained the rectilinear propagation of light in a homogeneous medium, based on the wave theory.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• light
• optics
• physics
• wave