Two slit experiment with a wavy screen

[Jilang]

I was wondering if the two slit experiment has been performed with a wavy screen, the screen being modulated in such a way as to compensate for the difference in the phases of the paths from the two slits. If so what was the result in terms of the angular distribution? If not what would it be expected to be?

 

[mfb]

What do you mean by "compensate"? For every point in space you can calculate the differences. If the screen is curved too much, you have to take diffraction there into account as well.

 

[Jilang]

I meant to modulate the detection screen so that the two paths arrive at it at every point with a constant phase difference. Would it be possible to eliminate the maxima and minima?

 

[mfb]

I meant to modulate the detection screen so that the two paths arrive at it at every point with a constant phase difference.

That is not possible unless you make holes in your screen (or use an extremely tiny screen). Phase difference is continuous for a continuous screen, so you cannot jump from one maximum to another for example.

 

[Jilang]

I don't understand. Would it not be possible to design the detection screen so that each point had a constant path difference from each of the slits? The modulation would be continuous as would be the the phase difference.

 

[mfb]

The points of constant path difference without disturbance are a line that goes away (nearly) radially from the slits. Such a screen would influence the propagation of light significantly.

 

[Jilang]

OK, thanks!