Figure 6.

1 Determination of wavelength

Figure 6.2 Particle size determination by LASER

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Wavelength of Laser and Particle Size Diode LASER

Expt. No.:

Date:

AIM
To calculate the wavelength of the given laser using grating and particle size of the given
lycopodium powder using laser diffraction method.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the wavelength of the laser using a grating and to find the particle size of
lycopodium powder
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
1. To obtain diffraction spots on the screen using grating and the laser source
2. To measure the distance between centre spot and first order spot by varying the
distance between the grating and screen
3. To find the angle of diffraction (sin ) using the formula
4. To calculate the wavelength of laser source using the formula
5. To obtain diffraction pattern of lycopodium powder using laser source
6. To measure the radius of the first and second order rings for various screenglass

plate distances and calculate the particle size

APPARATUS REQUIRED
Laser source
Glass plate with lycopodium powder
Grating
Stand
Screen
Metre scale

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TABLE - I
To determine the wavelength of the given laser

S. No.

Distance between the

grating and the centre spot
AB
(10-2m)

Distance between the

centre spot and first
order spot
BC
(10-2m)

Distance between the

first order spot (BC)
and the grating slit
AC= (AB2+BC2)
(10-2m)

Sin =
BC/ AC

1
2
3
4
5

Mean sin = .

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FORMULA
Wavelength of the given laser

sin
mN

(m)

Particle size a of the given powder

1.22mD
r

Symbol

(m)

Explanation

Unit

Wavelength of the laser light

Number of lines per metre length of the given grating

Particle size of the given powder

Order of diffraction

Distance between the screen and the glass plate

Radius of the ring

Angle of diffraction

m
lines/ m
m
no unit

degree

PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE
1. LASER
It is an acronym of Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
2. Properties of LASER
High intensity
Directionality
Monochromaticity
Coherence
3. Diffraction
Bending of light around the edges of an obstacle
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TABLE - II
To determine the particle size a

Order
m

Distance between screen

and glass plate
D (10-2 m)

Radius of the
ring
r
(10-2 m)

Particle
size
a (m )

1
2
1
2
1
2

Mean (a) = .

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4. Optical grating
It is a glass plate consisting of alternate ruling and slit
5. Pythagoras theorem
It states that the square of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal
to the sum of the squares of the other two sides
PROCEDURE
I. To determine the wavelength of the given laser source
1. An optical grating of known N value is fixed on the grating mount that is placed on a
wooden stand.
2. Laser beam from the given semiconductor laser source is made to fall normally on the
fixed grating.
3. Now, the grating diffracts laser beam. A screen is kept on the other side of the grating
to obtain the diffraction spots.
4. The distance between the grating and screen (AB) is fixed.
5. The distance between the centre spot and first order diffraction spot (BC) on either
side of the screen is measured.
6. The above procedure is repeated for different values of AB.
7. The distance between the diffracting slit and the first order diffraction spot is
calculated using AC=(AB2+BC2)
8. From the values of BC and AC, sin is calculated and the mean value is found.
9. The wavelength of the laser is calculated using the formula.
II. To determine the particle size of the given powder
1. The lycopodium powder dispersed in a transparent thin glass plate is kept vertically
using a stand in between the laser source and screen.
2. The laser beam incident on the glass plate undergoes diffraction by the particles.

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OBSERVATION
Number of lines per metre in the given grating N = 6 x 105 lines/ m
Order of the diffraction

m=1

CALCULATION
1. Wavelength of the given laser

sin
mN

(m)

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3. By adjusting the distance of the glass plate from the screen, a clear concentric ring
pattern is obtained. The ring pattern is due to the diffraction of the laser light by the
powder particles.
4. The centre of the ring pattern is marked on the screen. The radius of the first order
ring (m = 1) is measured and the measurement can be made for other orders
(m = 2, 3, 4,.) also.
5. The readings are taken for different values of D (distance between screen and glass
plate).

RESULT
1. Wavelength of the laser
2.

The average particle size of the given powder

= .. m
a = .. m

APPLICATIONS
Photography (3D view-Hologram), Medicine (treatment of a detached retina), Computer
(Printers), Meteorology (laser interferometer to measure length), Weapons (LIDAR - Light
Detection and Ranging), Industry (To weld or melt the materials)
VIVA VOCE QUESTIONS
1. Define coherence.

2. Identify two types of coherence.

3. Can we use X-rays instead of laser source in this experiment?

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2. Particle size of the given lycopodium powder

1.22mD
r

(m)

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4. List six applications of LASER.

5. Why do we get rings in the particle size determination instead of spots?

6. Is there any other method to measure the particle size?

STIMULATING QUESTIONS
1. Can we use the sodium vapour lamp as a source to measure particle size?

2. While increasing the distance between the screen and glass plate, what happens to
the particle size?

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