Understanding Diffraction at a Single Slit: Notes and Resources

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on understanding diffraction at a single slit, with participants emphasizing the need for clarity in the original request for information. It is noted that the requester, labeled as post-graduate level, should conduct their own research, as foundational concepts are typically covered in earlier education. Key points include the effect of distance on interference patterns and the nature of light as a transverse wave, with an emphasis on the oscillation of the electromagnetic field rather than a physical movement of light. The conversation also dismisses misconceptions about photons and suggests starting with basic physics resources for a better understanding. Overall, the thread encourages independent study and a solid grasp of fundamental principles in optics.
rezaulislam450
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[Mentors' note: This thread has been edited to change the level tag from 'A' to 'I']
Hello guys, I want the deduction part of-
diffraction at single slit:

Plz sent me the notes of this.
 
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rezaulislam450 said:
Hello guys, I want the deduction part of-
diffraction at single slit:

Plz sent me the notes of this.

Hi there
welcome to PF :smile:

you have labelled your post with an A tag, indicating a post graduate level.
you should be well used to doing research at that level, so what research have you done so far in finding the information you need ?
 
I'm afraid we can't help you like this.

Your description of what you want to know is too vague, what would you like to know about diffraction through a single slit? You have stated that you are at a post-graduate level (Advanced), what information do you want at that level?

EDIT: @davenn beat me to it.
 
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lekh2003 said:
I'm afraid we can't help you like this.

Your description of what you want to know is too vague, what would you like to know about diffraction through a single slit? You have stated that you are at a post-graduate level (Advanced), what information do you want at that level?

EDIT: @davenn beat me to it.
For BSc 4th sem general course of Physic in Gauhati university syllabus which required for this.
 
rezaulislam450 said:
For BSc 4th sem general course of Physic in Gauhati university syllabus which required for this.
There really isn't much to it. Especially when you approach it from a university level.

A lot of the relevant equations and principals should have been explained early in high school. What more can one learn in university about the topic that one does should already know about.

You can try and look at the hyperphysics link which PumpkinCougar95 gave. There isn't much else to provide at your level. You should be able to research this on your own.
 
rezaulislam450 said:
For BSc 4th sem general course of Physic in Gauhati university syllabus which required for this.

There's always the Khan Academy:

 
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Maybe naive or misguided questions. I need some clarity:
1. What is the effect on interference of varying the distance to the screen?
2. Light does not have a single dimension "surface" wave as in a water-bed wave interference machine. Does not the wavelength also have a side-to-side effect through the slit? Or would this imply that light in its behaviour as a wave has some amplitude (I believe this is an idea that is frowned upon)
Light as a photon circulating around an (empty?) nucleus as it also moves through space, possibly in a (polarised) sine wave, could explain many of the phenomena, or am I wrong?
 
Johannn said:
1. What is the effect on interference of varying the distance to the screen?
You can calculate that for yourself from the sources linked above. If you don't need a quantitative answer, will settle for a qualitative one, then as the distance between slit and screen increases the pattern on the screen spreads out and becomes dimmer.
2. Light does not have a single dimension "surface" wave as in a water-bed wave interference machine. Does not the wavelength also have a side-to-side effect through the slit? Or would this imply that light in its behaviour as a wave has some amplitude (I believe this is an idea that is frowned upon)
Although light is a transverse wave, nothing is actually moving sideways. It's the intensity of the electromagnetic field at a given point that is oscillatiing sinusoidally - and that intensity is the amplitude.

Generally when working this problem we approximate by considering the height of the slit to be infinite and the incident light to be an ideal plane wave: for a wave traveling in the positive x direction the amplitude is given by ##A\sin(kx-\omega t)## and for any given value of ##x## has the same value at all points in the corresponding y-z plane. With these simplifications the problem becomes mathematically analogous to the water wave problem, with the amplitude of the electromagnetic field analogous to the vertical displacement of the water.
Light as a photon circulating around an (empty?) nucleus as it also moves through space, possibly in a (polarised) sine wave, could explain many of the phenomena, or am I wrong?
Complete wrong. Photons are not anything like that, and they don't circulate around a nucleus. If you aren't looking for a graduate-level course in quantum electrodynamics, you might try some of our many threads on what photons are and are not, or give Feynman's layman-friendly book "QED: The strange theory of light and matter" a try. But photons are not involved in understanding interference and diffraction patterns, that's all classical wave electrodynamics.
 
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Johannn said:
Maybe naive or misguided questions.
Yep, they certainly are. Start at the beginning and do not try to jump into the middle of the subject with both feet. I have no idea what the most suitable source for you would be but start with a basic A Level Physics textbook.
 
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