Interference and Diffraction of Light

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the interference and diffraction of light, specifically analyzing the reflection of green light (λ = 525 nm) from a thin film with refractive indices of air (n_a = 1.00), film (n_f = 1.38), and glass (n_s = 1.50). Key calculations include the frequency of green light in air (5.714 x 1014 Hz), the frequency in the film (unchanged at 5.714 x 1014 Hz), the wavelength in the film (380.4 nm), and the minimum film thickness for constructive interference (190.2 nm). These calculations demonstrate the principles of light reflection and interference in thin films.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of wave properties of light
  • Knowledge of refractive indices
  • Familiarity with the concepts of frequency and wavelength
  • Basic principles of constructive and destructive interference
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the wave equation for light
  • Learn about the effects of varying refractive indices on light behavior
  • Explore the principles of thin film interference in detail
  • Investigate applications of interference patterns in optical devices
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Students of physics, optical engineers, and anyone interested in the behavior of light in thin films and interference phenomena.

cdhotfire
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I didnt go to school today, and so missed day of class, now i all lost someone help.

White light is incident normal to the surface of the film as shown below. It is observed that at a point where the light is incident on the film, light reflected from the surface appears green (lamda = 525 nm)


|
|--Light
|Air [itex]n_{a}=1.00[/itex]
-------------------------
Film [itex]n_{f}=1.38[/itex]
-------------------------

Glass [itex]n_{s}=1.50[/itex]
-------------------------
Air [itex]n_{a}=1.00[/itex]

i. What is the frequency of the green light in air?
ii. What is the frequency of the green light in the film?
iii. What is the wavelength of the green light in the film?
iv. Calculate the minimum thickness of film that would produce this green reflection.


I know that the light will reflect off when it hits the film, and again when it hits the glass. Thats about all i can see here. [itex]f=\frac{v}{lamda}[/atex] i have the lamda outside but that's it. Can anyone help i don't want to get behind. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":smile:" title="Smile :smile:" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":smile:" />[/itex]
 
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cdhotfire said:
I didnt go to school today, and so missed day of class, now i all lost someone help.

White light is incident normal to the surface of the film as shown below. It is observed that at a point where the light is incident on the film, light reflected from the surface appears green (lamda = 525 nm)


|
|--Light
|Air [itex]n_{a}=1.00[/itex]
-------------------------
Film [itex]n_{f}=1.38[/itex]
-------------------------

Glass [itex]n_{s}=1.50[/itex]
-------------------------
Air [itex]n_{a}=1.00[/itex]

i. What is the frequency of the green light in air?
ii. What is the frequency of the green light in the film?
iii. What is the wavelength of the green light in the film?
iv. Calculate the minimum thickness of film that would produce this green reflection.


I know that the light will reflect off when it hits the film, and again when it hits the glass. Thats about all i can see here. [itex]f=\frac{v}{lamda}[/atex] i have the lamda outside but that's it. Can anyone help i don't want to get behind. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":smile:" title="Smile :smile:" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":smile:" />[/itex]
[itex] <b>ITEM #1:</b><br /> What is the frequency of the green light in air?<br /> v = f*λ <br /> ::: ⇒ f = v/λ<br /> ::: ⇒ f = (3*10<sup>8</sup> m/sec)/(525*10<sup>(-9)</sup> m)<br /> ::: ⇒ f = (5.714*10<sup>14</sup> Hz)<br /> <br /> <b>ITEM #2:</b><br /> ii. What is the frequency of the green light in the film?<br /> In the film, velocity & wavelength change. Frequency does not. Frequency is same answer prev item:<br /> ::: ⇒ f = (5.714*10<sup>14</sup> Hz)<br /> <br /> <b>ITEM #3:</b><br /> iii. What is the wavelength of the green light in the film?<br /> λ<sub>film</sub> = λ<sub>air</sub>*n<sub>air</sub>/n<sub>film</sub><br /> ::: ⇒ λ<sub>film</sub> = (525 nm)*(1)/(1.38)<br /> ::: ⇒ λ<sub>film</sub> = (380.4 nm)<br /> <br /> <b>ITEM #4:</b><br /> Calculate the minimum thickness of film that would produce this green reflection.<br /> The green reflection is caused by CONSTRUCTIVE interference between the ray reflected from the film's top surface with that reflected from the film's bottom surface. Both these rays undergo 180 deg phase shifts from the incident rays at their respective interfaces, so NO net phase shift results from the reflections themselves. However, a phase difference can occur from the added path length traveled by the ray in the film:<br /> {Path Length of Ray in Film} = 2*{Film Thickness}<br /> The <i>minimum</i> film thickness for CONSTRUCTIVE interference occurs when the film ray's path length is exactly {(1.0)*λ<sub>film</sub>}. Placing this value into the above equation and solving for minimum film thickness:<br /> {Path Length of Ray in Film} = {(1.0)*λ<sub>film</sub>} = 2*{Minimum Film Thickness}<br /> ::: ⇒ 2*{Minimum Film Thickness} = (380.4 nm)<br /> ::: ⇒ {Minimum Film Thickness} = (190.2 nm) = (0.1902 um) = (1.902*10<sup>(-7)</sup> m)<br /> <br /> <br /> ~~[/itex]
 
thank you very much, would of helped if it was yesturday, i figured it out later on, but many thanks for helping. :biggrin:
 

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