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OXP-07 Diffraction of Light

  Topics:
Huygens Principle
Single and Multiple Slits
Diffraction of White Light
Diffraction at a Wire
Babinet Theorem
Diffraction of Monochromatic Light

Christian Huygens
1629-1695

 


All objects which restrict the free propagation of light cause diffraction. Although this phenomenon is present always, it is neglected usually, because the effect is too insignificant for the topic of investigation. But if light hits sharp edges, diffraction will appear clearly and cannot be neglected, especially when light is diffracted on very narrow openings like holes or slits.
Based on the principle of elementary waves Christian Huygens formulated the interpretation of diffraction already in the 17th century. But it was in 1800 only, when Fresnel and Fraunhofer studied the effect of diffraction in detail. Fresnel used divergent light for his investigations, whereas Fraunhofer performed his experiments with parallel light and by means of a pair of lenses. Those two techniques are described as Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction respectively.
In this experiment both types of diffraction are discussed. Investigations are performed using monochromatic laser light which will be diffracted on slits and holes of various widths and gratings. Thin wires show impressively the Babinet theorem stating that complementary masks result in the same diffraction pattern. The obtained diffraction patterns will be observed on a target screen and can be measured by a photodiode quantitatively.


 

 


 

Examples of Investigation and Measurement


Diffraction at single slits
In a first measurement the collimated beam of a laser is applied to single slits. The diffraction pattern as a function of the slit width is investigated and its angular distribution is measured with a photo detector.

Diffraction at multiple slits
For further investigations double slits and multiple slits with various widths and spacing are provided. Interference of diffracted waves is observed and diffraction laws are verified. As an extension to a mask with an infinite number of slits a diffraction grating is used.

Babinet theorem
The use of a thin wire shows the same diffraction pattern as a slit with a width corresponding to the thickness of the wire. Through this principle the thickness of the provided wires or of the hair of a student can be determined.
 


 

 

 

 

OXP-07   Required Equipment


1  
1


02.0200
02.0300

 


Profile rail OCM 650, 200 mm
Profile rail OCM 650, 300 mm

The high precision optical rails are made out of special anodized aluminum. The rails are the base for various modules attached to carriers.


 




 

1

02.1022

Carrier OCM 650, 20 mm with screen holder

This module can mount optical screens. Through the attached carrier, the screen holder can be placed onto the optical rail. The carrier 20 mm and the holder are made out of special anodized aluminum.
 

 

1

02.1602

 

Screen with scale

Experimental results like colour spectra and interference patterns can be visualized on these screens. Horizontal or vertical scales allow calibrations and quantitative measurements; a screen with an aperture is used for observing back-reflected rays. The screens are made out of anodized aluminum plates with one side painted white and can be fixed onto screen holders (02.1022, 02.1608).
 

2

02.2126

Mounting plate OCM 650 for click 25, including carrier 20 mm

Mounting plates are used to hold optical mounts. A characteristic feature of the mounting plates is the “click” mechanism of the inserts based on spring loaded spheres. Snapping in the groove of the inserted click mount, the optical element is kept in an exact position. On the other hand, the system allows a quick and easy change of the mounted inserts.
The mounting plates are made out of special anodized aluminum. Mounted onto the carrier 20 mm, the mounting plates can be placed onto an optical rail.
 

1 02.2528

Click mount 25 mm with 0,5 mm hole aperture

This click mount 25 mm contains a disk with a 0.5 mm hole aperture and is commonly used to reduce the acceptance angle of a photodetector. The click mount can be fixed onto a mounting plate (02.2126).

1

02.6106

4 axis adjustment holder KH650, theta, phi, X and Y, including carrier 20 mm

This adjustment holder mounts a Diode Laser or an LED lamp. Using the fine pitch adjustment screws, the optical axis can be aligned within the range of 3 mm. For fine alignment of the angle of the light beam, two additional pitch adjustment screws are attached onto the back of the holder. The holder and the carrier 20 mm are made out of special anodized aluminum and can be placed onto an optical rail.


 

1 04.0061

Plano convex lens f=40, mounted in click 25 mount

Different glass lenses are mounted onto a special anodized aluminum click mount 25 mm by two threaded mounting rings to be used in connection with a mounting plate (02.2126).
 

1 05.0030

 

LED white in housing

As universal and easy-to-change light sources, LED lamps are used in optical experiments. The LEDs are mounted onto a 40 mm x 25 mm diameter housing tube made out of special anodized aluminum. For the alignment, the lamps can be fixed onto a four axis adjustment holder mounted onto a carrier. For their operation, the active LDD-05 power supply (07.0206) is required which controls the output power. For the lamps 1 W (white LED: 3W), high brightness LEDs are used.
 


1

05.0226

DIMO diode laser module, 532 nm (green)

Due to its collimated beam, this frequency doubled green YAG laser is an ideal light source for experiments dealing with ray tracing and beam propagation. The diode in its 40 mm x 25 mm diameter housing tube made out of special anodized aluminum can be fixed onto a four axis adjustment holder and can be aligned to the optical axis. Driven by the LDD-05 active power supply (07.0206), the output power is controlled in the range from 0 to 3 mW.
 

1 07.0010

BNC – Banana adapter connection leads 2x4 mm plugs

This BNC cable is used to connect a photodetector (07.0101) to a digital multimeter (19.0400).
Total length: 1 m
 

1 07.0102

PIN Si Photodetector BPX 61 complete with housing

Using a BNC cable, the photodetector can be connected to a measuring device. Mounted onto a special anodized aluminum click 25 head, the photodetector is to be used in connection with a mounting plate (02.2126).
 

1 07.0206

LDD-05 active power supply

The universal LDD-05 active power supply is used for all laser and LED light sources. It recognizes which source is connected and sets the parameters for it automatically. The unit is equipped with a main switch, a regulation knob for adjusting the laser or LED power and a safety lock. The provided USB bus interface allows control through a personal computer or laptop and qualifies this unit as multimedia source.
The housing is made out of shock-proof plastic with an aluminum front and rear panel.

Voltage: 230 VAC / 50 Hz
Case dimensions: 200 mm x 160 mm x 62 mm.
 




1 09.1710

Optical slit plate assembly

A hinged joint angle connector holds various optical slit plates of 50 mm x 50 mm x 3 mm provided in this assembly to study the diffraction of slits. The unit can be mounted onto two optical rails which can be set in a defined angle to each other. By adjusting the hinge angle, the beam deviation angle can be measured on a scale from -90 - +90° at intervals of 2°.
The set of six slit plates consists of:

2 Single slit masks
2 Double slit mask
1 Hole mask
1 Line mask

The metal parts are made out of special anodized aluminum.

 




1 09.1746

Beam expander magnification 6x

The beam expander, consisting of two lenses mounted onto a click 25 optical mount and a 40 mm x 25 mm diameter sleeve, can be fixed onto the mounting plate (02.2126) which is attached to the optical rail using a carrier. The divergence of the magnified beam is adjusted by varying the telescope length.
 


1 19.0400

Digital multimeter 3 ˝ digits

he digital multimeter is used for relative intensity measurements of light beams. It has to be connected to a photodetector via banana adapter connection leads.

Specifications:

Display LCD, 3 ˝ digits  
AC voltage ranges 2 / 20 / 200 / 750 V
Frequency range 40 - 400 Hz
DC voltage ranges 0,2 / 2 / 20 / 200 / 1000 V
AC current ranges 2 / 20 / 200 mA / 20 A
Frequency range 40 - 400 Hz
DC current ranges 0,2 / 2 / 20 / 200 mA / 20 A
Resistance ranges 0,2 / 2 / 20k / 0,2 / 2 / 20 MΩ.







 


 


 




 

 

Experiments

OXP-01 Refraction of Light

OXP-02 Prisms

OXP-03 Lenses

OXP-04 Reflection & Transmission

OXP-05 Beam Bending

OXP-06 Refractometer

OXP-07 Diffraction of Light

OXP-08 Optical Gratings

OXP-09 Spectral Analysis

OXP-10 Interference

OXP-11 Interferometer

OXP-12 Holography

OXP-13 Polarisation

OXP-14 Double Refraction

OXP-15 Colour Mixing

OXP-16 Optical Filters

OXP-17 Absorption & Emission

OXP-18 Image Projection

OXP-19 Camera

OXP-20 LED & Laser Diode

 

Kits

Basic Kit

Complete Kit

Advanced Kit