How the interference of light changes if there's a lens?

AI Thread Summary
The presence of a convergent lens in Young's experiment alters the interference pattern by making it smaller if placed after the beams combine and before the screen. Conversely, using a diverging lens enlarges the pattern, or moving the screen further away can also achieve this effect, though it results in a dimmer pattern. The rays from different image points only cross if the screen is positioned beyond the focal point of the lens, leading to an enlarged pattern. Understanding these effects is crucial for grasping geometrical optics in interference experiments. The interaction of light with lenses significantly impacts the visibility and size of interference fringes.
Luck0
Messages
22
Reaction score
1
Suppose we have the Young's experiment with a convergent lens between the slits and the screen. How would the interference fringes change? Sorry about the silly question, but I'm having a hard time with geometrical optics. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Science news on Phys.org
If the lens is placed after the beams are combined, and before the screen ... then it will make the pattern smaller.

If you use a diverging (negative) lens, then the pattern will be enlarged ... or you can simply move the screen far away, but then the pattern will be dimmer.

The rays from the various image points don't cross each other unless your screen is past the focal point; in that case the pattern will be enlarged.
 
  • Like
Likes 1 person
Thread 'A quartet of epi-illumination methods'

Thread 'A quartet of epi-illumination methods'

Well, it took almost 20 years (!!!), but I finally obtained a set of epi-phase microscope objectives (Zeiss). The principles of epi-phase contrast is nearly identical to transillumination phase contrast, but the phase ring is a 1/8 wave retarder rather than a 1/4 wave retarder (because with epi-illumination, the light passes through the ring twice). This method was popular only for a very short period of time before epi-DIC (differential interference contrast) became widely available. So...
View full post »

Thread 'Effective absorption coefficient of gold nanoparticles'

I am currently undertaking a research internship where I am modelling the heating of silicon wafers with a 515 nm femtosecond laser. In order to increase the absorption of the laser into the oxide layer on top of the wafer it was suggested we use gold nanoparticles. I was tasked with modelling the optical properties of a 5nm gold nanoparticle, in particular the absorption cross section, using COMSOL Multiphysics. My model seems to be getting correct values for the absorption coefficient and...
View full post »

Thread 'The focal length of the eye and image inversion'

After my surgery this year, gas remained in my eye for a while. The light air bubbles appeared to sink to the bottom, and I realized that the brain was processing the information to invert the up/down/left/right image transferred to the retina. I have a question about optics and ophthalmology. Does the inversion of the image transferred to the retina depend on the position of the intraocular focal point of the lens of the eye? For example, in people with farsightedness, the focal point is...
View full post »

Similar threads

I Newton's rings at an oblique angle of incidence of light
Replies
1
Views
1K
I Question about two interference patterns viewed at infinity
Replies
7
Views
2K
I How to couple light from a very small source into spectrometer?
Replies
10
Views
1K
I Quetelet rings on LCD displays?
Replies
3
Views
2K
Interference of light by splitting the wavefront and recombining
Replies
8
Views
2K
Methods for capturing a Fabry-Perot Interference Pattern
Replies
2
Views
2K
Does the Thickness Affect a Semi-Mirror Spherical Lens' Characteristics?
Replies
5
Views
1K
I Using simple lenses to image AFM Probes
Replies
10
Views
2K
I How Can I Build an Effective DIY Helmet-Mounted HUD?
Replies
19
Views
3K
I Condenser lens retrofit for a lighting application
Replies
24
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top