Interference of

Waves

7
 Interference of water waves

Two wave sources are said to

be coherent:

- if the phase difference

between the sources is constant,

- if they have same frequency,

- if the two waves have

comparable amplitudes.

The interference pattern produced

in a ripple tank using two sources
of circular waves which are in
phase with each other.
Constructive & destructive interference

The two sources S1 and S2 are in phase and

coherent. Therefore, the wavelengths of waves
from S1 and S2
 Optical Interference
Optical interference corresponds to the interaction of two or
more light waves yielding a resultant irradiance that deviates
from the sum of component irradiance.
Division of wavefront
Optical Interference

Division of wavefront
Division of amplitude

Wavefront Division: Involves taking one

wavefront and dividing it up into more than
one wave.
Eg: Young’s double slit interference;
Diffraction grating

Division of amplitude
Amplitude Division: Involves splitting a
light beam into two beams at a surface of
two media of different refractive index.
Eg: Michelson interferometer
10
Superposition of waves

E E1 E2 E3 E4 .....
2
E ( E1 E2 ).( E1 E2 ) (for two waves)
2 2 2
E E 1 E 2 2( E1 E2 )

Ej E0 j cos(k j . r t j )

Taking time average on both sides

I I1 I 2 I12 11
 Time Average
2
I1 E1 T t T
1
2 f(t) f (t') dt '
I2 E 2 T
T
T t

I12 2 E1.E 2 T

Interference term
1
E1.E2 E01.E02 cos(k1.r 1 k2 .r 2 )
2
I12 E01.E02 cos k1. r 1 k2 . r 2

The phase difference arising from a combined path

12
length and initial phase difference.
Total irradiance I I1 I 2 2 I1 I 2 cos

For maximum irradiance k1. r 1 k2 . r 2

cos 1
I max I1 I 2 2 I1 I 2

Total constructive interference

0 , 2 , 4 ,..........
13
Total irradiance I I1 I 2 2 I1 I 2 cos

For minimum irradiance

k1. r 1 k2 . r 2

cos 1
I max I1 I 2 2 I1 I 2
Total destructive interference

, 3 , 5 ,..........
14
Twin Source Interference Pattern

I I1 I 2 2 I1 I 2 cos
For I1=I2=I0
(k1. r 1 k2 . r 2 )

2
I 2 I 0 (1 cos ) 4 I 0 cos
2

15
Young’s Double
Slit Experiment
( Division of Wavefront)

1
Young’s Double Slit Experiment

2
Young’s double slit

3
 D

Path difference:
SP S P

2 2 2 2
D x d 2 D x d 2
D x, d 4
 Path difference calculation
2 12 2 12
x d 2 x d 2
D 1 2
D 1 2
D D
For 1 x
n
1 x 1 nx
2 2
x d 2 x d 2
2D
2 x d 2D xd D
5
 xd
Path difference: SP S P
D
For a bright fringe, SP S P m
m: any integer
For a dark fringe, SP S P 2m 1 2

6
Constructive Interference

Path difference m ( m 1, 2,3, 4,....)

2
Phase difference m 7
Destructive interference

Path difference 2m 1 ( m 0,1, 2,3, 4,....)

2
2
Phase difference 2m 1 8
2
Transverse section –Straight fringes
P

S x

d O

N
S

Path difference SP S ' P SN d sin

For mth bright fringe
d sin m m
the path difference
9
 Path difference

SP S ' P SN d sin m m
The distance of mth bright fringe from central maxima

m
xm D sin m D
d
Fringe separation/ Fringe width x xm xm 1

D
x
d 10
Interference Animation If the separation between
the slits decreases, then

1. Angular spacing of the

fringes increases

2. Fringe width increases

The angular spacing of the fringes, , is given by:

(where d is the separation

d between slits)

D
x (Fringe width) 11
d
 Total irradiance I I1 I 2 2 I1 I 2 cos
For two beams of equal irradiance (I0)

2
I 2 I 0 (1 cos ) 4 I 0 cos
2
phase difference
2
Path difference d sin d sin
Phase difference

x 2 xd
sin
D
I 4 I 0 cos
D 12
Visibility of the fringes (V )

I max I min
V
I max I min
Maximum and adjacent minimum of the fringe system

13
Photograph of real fringe pattern for Young’s double slit

14
Michelson Interferometer
(Division of Amplitude)

1
 Experimental set up

Albert Abraham Michelson

(1852-1931)

Michelson Interferometer
This instrument can produce both types of interference
fringes i.e., circular fringes of equal inclination at infinity and
localized fringes of equal thickness
3
 Michelson
Interferometer
Mirror 1

Monochromatic
light source

Mirror 2
Compensation
plate

Beam splitter

Fringe Pattern
Effective arrangement of the interferometer
An observer at the detector will see M1, a reflected
Circular fringes image of M2(M2//) and the images S’ and S” of the
source provided by M1 and M2. This may be
represented by a linear configuration.
Longitudinal section –Circular fringes (general treatement)

P
Ð PS 'S » Ð PQ S = q m

N rn

O
Q qm S
S¢
2d
D

S ' P - SP » S ' N » 2d cos q m = ml Condition of maxima

(without any reflection)
qm2 (for small qm)
cos q m » 1 -
2
 For small qm qm ml
2
1- =
2 2d

Central bright fringe 2d = m0 l (Note: There is no reflection here)

(m0 - m)l nl
q »
2
m = (n = m0 - m)
d d
Radius of nth bright ring

D nl 2
r »Dq =
2
m
2 2
m
d
Internal reflection implies that the reflection is from an
interface to a medium of lesser index of refraction.

External reflection implies that the reflection is from an

interface to a medium of higher index of refraction.

8
 Mirror 1

In Michelson interferometer
(when the phase change of ray 2 is considered)
Ray 1

Ray 2

2d cos q m = ml (m = 0,1,2,...) : Minima

Mirror 2
Note: Ray 2
æ 1ö experiences an
2d cos q m = ç m + ÷l (m = 0,1,2,...) : Maxima additional p phase

è 2ø chance due to
external reflection
and as a result the
conditions of
Order of the fringe: maxima and minima
are exchanged
When the central fringe is dark the order of the fringe is
2d
m=
l
As d is increased new fringes appear at the centre and the existing
fringes move outwards, and finally move out of the field of view.

For any value of d, the central fringe has the largest value of m.
Fringe shape

Central dark fringe

2d = mo l

1st dark ring

2d cos q1 = (m0 - 1)l
2nd dark ring
2d cos q 2 = (m0 - 2)l

And so on.............
 In Michelson interferometer
2d cos q m = ml

For central dark fringe: 2d = mo l

The first dark fringe satisfies: 2d cos q1 = (m0 - 1)l

q12
For small θ cos q1 » 1 -
2
æ q12 ö q1
2d ç1 - ÷ = ( m0 - 1) l D
è 2 ø

dq = l
2 Dl 2
1 r »Dq =
1
2 2
1
2

d
Radius of first dark fringe
The pth dark fringe satisfies: 2" cos &' = )* − , -

&'/
2" 1 − = m* − p - "&'/ = )- (2d = mo l )
2

pth dark ring

Radius of pth dark ring:
"&'/ = )-
&'
4 /,-
2'/ ≈ 4 /&'/ =
"

12
Michelson interferometer Michelson interferometer
with compensator without compensator

M2 M2

S S

M1 M1

Condition for central dark spot Condition for central bright spot
2d = m0 l (q = 0 ) 2d = m0 l (q = 0 )

13
 Measurement of wavelength of light

2dcosq m = ml
2d = m0 l (q = 0 )
Move one of the mirrors to a new position d’ so that the order of the
fringe at the centre is changed from mo to m.

2d ¢ = ml
2 d ¢ - d = m - m0 l = Dml
Dd
l=2
Dm
Ne on ring

19
Ne on ring

20
Ne on Ring
Ray 1 undergoes a phase change of 180 on reflection,
whereas ray 2 undergoes no phase change

R = radius of curvature of lens

r = adi of Ne on ing
d R R2 r 2
2
1 r
R R1 ...
2 R
1 r2
2 R
For bright rings
(considering phase change of 𝜋 for one of the rays)

2dn (2m 1) Optical path difference

2 2dn
2
1r
2 n (2m 1)
2R 2
n
rbright (2m 1) R (2m 1) R , m 0,1, 2...
2n 2n
For dark rings
(considering phase change of 𝜋 for one of the rays)

1 r2
d
2 R
Optical path differenc

2dn

2dn 2m
2
n
rdark 2mR , m 0,1, 2...
2
Ph ical nde anding of Ne on Rings

For bright fringe

path difference

2dn (2m 1)
2
For dark fringe
path difference

2dn 2m
2

25
Ne on Ring