EXPERIMENT 1: DOUBLE-SLIT DIFFRACTION

AND DIFFRACTION GRATINGS

AIM:
1. To perform the classic “Young’s experiment”, in which the diffraction of light by
a double slit is observed.
2. To measure the slit width and slit separation using diffraction.
3. To use computer simulation in diffraction problems.

INTRODUCTION:
In approximately 1805, Thomas Young performed an experiment which showed that
light exhibits properties simular to waves. The results from Young’s experiments have
resulted in widely accepted knowledge regarding the behaviour of light.

When a beam of light with wavelength λ is incident towards a barrier with a single slit in
it, the light will diffract in a pattern similar to the figure below. Each of these propagating
waves can be considered to act as a point source (Huygens-Fresnel Principle).

Fig. 1.1
http://electron9.phys.utk.edu/phys136d/modules/m9/diff.htm

When the cumulative effects of multiple slits and wavefronts are considered, the
individual wavefronts will interfere so that when two peaks of a wavefront meet, the
amplitude of the wave is enhanced (increased) and when a peak and a trough meet, the
amplitude of the wave is partially or totally cancelled (decreased). Essentially, the
wavefronts either interact constructively or destructively.

http://encyclozine.com/science/physics/waves http://www.sciencestudy.org/post/Interference.aspx
When the interference patterns from slit experiments are observed on a screen,
constructive interference results in bands of bright light and deconstructive interference
results in a band of darkness separating the illuminated sections.

PICTURE
The intensity of the bands of light can be qualitatively described by the function:

sin 2 β
I (β , γ ) = I 0 . cos 2 γ
β 2

Where I 0 = the central intensity, β = ½ kb sin θ , b = slit width, γ = 1/2kd sin θ , d =

slit separation and k=2π/λ.

The intensity of a beam of light, or amplitude squared, is a way of measuring the energy
emitted by a light source which is not perceivable to the human eye.

sin 2 β
A single slit diffraction pattern is described by and cos 2 γ is the diffraction
β2
pattern due to double slits.

Central Intensity (I0)

Minima (I = 0)
Order of minima (m) = 1

http://www.sparknotes.com/physics/optics/phenom/section2.rhtml

The red line in the figure above shows the diffraction pattern of a single slit experiment.
λ λ
At ± , the first minima occurs (a band of darkness would be observed at sin θ = ±
b b
). This red line encloses another plot (seen in blue) and this is the double slit diffraction
pattern.

sin 2 β
The minima in occur when sin β = 0 . Therefore β=π for the first positive
β2
minimum.

∴as β = ½ kb sin θ :
 1
π = kb sin θ
2

1 2π
∴π = b sin θ
2 λ
π
= b sin θ
λ

λ
∴b =
sin θ

π 3π
The minima in cos 2 γ occur when cos γ =0. Therefore, γ = ± , ± …
2 2
 1
= ± m − π where m is the order of the minimum.
 2

∴as γ = ½ kd sin θ :

 1 1
±  m − π = kd sin θ
 2 2

1 2π
= d sin θ
2 λ
π
= d sin θ
λ

 1 1
∴± m −  = d sin θ
 2 λ

 1
∴± m − λ = d sin θ
 2

 1
±  m − λ
∴d = 
2
sin θ

APPARATUS:
 • Class 2 laser, 1mW output, λ=632.8nm.
• Optical bench
• Slide mount
• 1 x double slit optical slide
• 2 x optical slides with 4 slits
• Screen

PROCEDURE:
1. Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram below.

2. Fixed the slide mount and screen by locking them to the optical bench.
3. Measured and recorded the distance from the slide mount to the screen
4. Turned on the laser so that the centre of the beam could be seen on the screen.
5. Carefully marked the position of the beam on the screen.
6. Measured and recorded the distance from the centre of the beam to the edge of the
screen.
7. Calculated the maximum value of θ and sin θ based on the above measurements.
8. Mounted slide 1 and adjusted vertically and horizontally until the laser diffracted
through a single slit evenly and clearly (single slit diffraction).

9. Marked the first minima either side of the centre of the beam (from θ = 0).
10. Measured and recorded the distances of the minima from the centre in table 1 and
calculated θ.
11. Mounted slide 2 and adjusted vertically and horizontally until the laser diffracted
through double slit pattern 1 evenly and clearly (double slit diffraction).

12. Marked the single-slit minima and the first 10 minima either side of the centre of
the beam (from θ = 0).
13. Measured and recorded the cumulative distance of each minimum from the
centre of the beam in table 2.
14. Repeated steps 11 - 13 for pattern 2 on slide 2 and for pattern 3 on slide 3.

15. Calculated the average value of θ for the single-slit minima.

16. Calculated b.
17. Used the CUPS program to model a single-slit diffraction pattern using the same
experimental values for b and λ.
18. Found the angle corresponding to the first minima on CUPS and compared to the
experimental calculation
 1  1
19. Plotted sin θm against  m −  for (m, θm ) > 0 and sin θm against  m +  for
 2  2
(m, θm ) < 0 in graph 1 for all three double-slit diffraction patterns.
20. Calculated d for each double slit pattern from the gradient of each line in graph
1.
21. Used the CUPS program to model a double-slit diffraction grating using the d
values calculated for each double-slit pattern.
22. Recorded the angles for the first five simulated minimums and compared to the
experimental values in table 3.
23. Used the CUPS program to model slit patterns from three slits to 10 and found a
pattern between the number of slits and shape of the graph.
RESULTS:

Measurements:
Distance between slide mount and screen: L = 1.335 m ± 0.0005m
Distance from central beam to edge of screen: W = 0.145 m ± 0.0005m
Laser beam wavelength: λ = 632.8 nm

Calculation of θ:

W 
θ = tan −1  
L
 0.145 
= tan −1  
 1.335 
= 6.199 o
= 0.108 radians

sin θ = sin( 0.108 ) = 0.10779

∴sin θ ≈ θ

For ease of calculations, it will be assumed that sin θ ≈ θ for the remainder of the
calculations.

Table 1: Single-Slit Minima

 Distance from central beam to first θ ≈ sinθ (radians)
order minima (all values are ±) (all values are ±)
Single Slit Diffraction 4.0cm  −1 0.040 
 tan  = 0.030
 1.335 
Double Slit Diffraction: 3.9cm  −1 0.039 
 tan  = 0.029
Slide 2-1  1.335 
Double Slit Diffraction: 3.4cm  −1 0.034 
 tan  = 0.025
Slide 2-2  1.335 
Double Slit Diffraction: 3.9cm  −1 0.039 
 tan  = 0.029
Slide 3-3  1.335 
Average 0.028

Error in length measurements = ±0.0005m

Calculation of Error for θ:

 θ max − θ min 
Variation of θ about the mean = ±  
 2 

 0.030 - 0.025 
= ± 
 2 

= ±0.0025 radians

∴θ = 0.028 ± 0.0025 radians

Calculation of b:

Where λ = 632.8 ± 0.05nm and θ ≈ sinθ = 0.028 ± 0.0025 radians

λ
b=
sin θ

632 .8 ×10 −9
∴b =
0.028

= 2.3 ×10 −5 m

= 0.023 ± mm

Computer Simulation of Single Slit Minima:

When b = 0.021 and λ = 623 nm:

θ ≈ sinθ = 1.75o = 0.030 radians

Comparison of experimental value of θ and CUPS value of θ for single-slit minima:

θCUPS + θ EXPERIMENT AL 0.030 + 0.028

∴θ AVERAGE = = = 0.029 radians
2 2

∴θAVERAGE = 0.029 ± 0.001 radians

Experimental Error =
Table 2: Double Slit Diffraction

Slide 2, Slit 1 Slide 2, Slit 2 Slide 3, Slit 3

θ θ θ
Distance from (radian Distance from (radian Distance from (radian
Order centre (m) s) centre (m) s) centre (m) s)
-10 -0.079 -0.059 -0.050 -0.037 -0.026 -0.019
-9 -0.070 -0.052 -0.046 -0.034 -0.023 -0.017
-8 -0.062 -0.046 -0.040 -0.030 -0.021 -0.016
-7 -0.053 -0.040 -0.036 -0.027 -0.018 -0.013
-6 -0.045 -0.034 -0.032 -0.024 -0.015 -0.011
-5 -0.037 -0.028 -0.022 -0.016 -0.013 -0.010
-4 -0.028 -0.021 -0.017 -0.013 -0.010 -0.007
-3 -0.019 -0.014 -0.013 -0.010 -0.007 -0.005
-2 -0.012 -0.009 -0.007 -0.005 -0.004 -0.003
-1 -0.004 -0.003 -0.002 -0.001 -0.002 -0.001
0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
1 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.001 0.002 0.001
2 0.012 0.009 0.007 0.005 0.004 0.003
3 0.019 0.014 0.013 0.010 0.007 0.005
4 0.028 0.021 0.017 0.013 0.010 0.007
5 0.037 0.028 0.022 0.016 0.013 0.010
6 0.045 0.034 0.032 0.024 0.015 0.011
7 0.053 0.040 0.036 0.027 0.018 0.013
8 0.062 0.046 0.040 0.030 0.021 0.016
9 0.070 0.052 0.046 0.034 0.023 0.017
10 0.079 0.059 0.050 0.037 0.026 0.019
Graph 1:

Double Slit Diffraction: Slide 2, Slit 1

y = 0.0062x + 4E-18
2
R = 0.9998
0.080
0.060
0.040
θ (radians)

0.020
0.000
-10 -5 -0.020 0 5 10

-0.040
-0.060
-0.080
(m-1/2) for (m,θ)>0 and (m+1/2) for (m,θ)<0
Graph 2:

Double Slit Diffraction: Slide 2, Slit 2 y = 0.004x - 3E-19

R2 = 0.9981
0.060
0.040
0.020
θ (radians)

0.000
-10 -5 0 5 10
-0.020
-0.040
-0.060
(m-1/2) for (m,θ)>0 and (m+1/2) for (m,θ)<0
Graph 3:

Double Slit Diffraction: Slide 3, Slit 3 y = 0.0021x + 5E-19

R2 = 0.9995
0.030

0.020
θ (radians)

0.010

0.000
-10 -5 0 5 10
-0.010

-0.020

-0.030
(m-1/2) for (m,θ)>0 and (m+1/2) for (m,θ)<0
Calculation of d:

 1
±  m − λ
2
d= 
sin θ

sin θ
∴as m − 0.5
is the gradient in graph 1, 2 and 3:

λ
d =
gradient

Slide 2, Double Slit Pattern 1:

Where y = 0.0062 x + 4 ×10 −18 :

λ 632 .8 ×10 −9
∴d 2.1 = =
gradient 0.0062

= 1.02 ×10 −4 m
= 0.102 mm

Slide 2, Double Slit Pattern 2:

Where y = 0.004 x −3 ×10 −19

λ 632 .8 ×10 −9
∴d 2.2 = =
gradient 0.004

= 1.58 ×10 −4 m
= 0.158 mm

Slide 3, Double Slit Pattern 3:

Where y = 0.0021 x +5 ×10 −19

λ 632 .8 ×10 −9
∴d 2.3 = =
gradient 0.0021

= 3 ×10 −4 m
= 0.3 mm
Table 3: Comparison of Computer Simulation Minima to Experimental Values:

Slit 2, Pattern 1 Slit 2, Pattern 2 Slit 3, Pattern 3

Order Minima Minima θ Minima Minima θ Minima Minima θ

θ (radians) θ (radians) θ (radians)
(degrees) (degrees) (degrees)
1 0.34 0.006 0.180 0.003 0.110 0.002
2 1.05 0.018 0.530 0.009 0.330 0.006
3 1.67 0.029 0.850 0.015 0.580 0.010
4 2.32 0.040 1.170 0.020 0.760 0.013
5 1.500 0.026 0.990 0.017
Slit Seperation (d)