How Does Diffraction Grating Reveal CD and DVD Storage Capacities?

[NeoXx]

Hello,


I have to do an experiment in which I will investigate the diffraction grating of a CD
and a DVD. I want to find out the spacing of tracks on both of them and thus find how much information can be stored. Also I want to compare them (density of tracks etc.) and maybe even suggest further improvements to optical disks.

Is there anything else I could find out in this experiment? Perhaps some mathematical relationship?


Regards,

NeoXx

 

[UltrafastPED]

You will use the diffraction grating equation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffraction_grating

That plus a well collimated beam of coherent light.

 

[dauto]

You will use the diffraction grating equation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffraction_grating

That plus a well collimated beam of coherent light.

AKA laser

 

[UltrafastPED]

Or a pin-hole in a dark room; coherent light sources existed prior to the invention of the laser!

Any distant, steady source when introduced via a pinhole should work. For example, the sun, or a gas discharge tube.