Why do fringes appear sharper with more slits in multiple slit diffraction?

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Adding more slits in multiple slit diffraction results in sharper fringes due to increased constructive interference at specific locations and enhanced destructive interference elsewhere. This phenomenon occurs because more slits create additional constraints for achieving constructive interference, leading to thinner fringe patterns. The presence of more slits means that at distances slightly away from the maxima, there are more contributions that interfere destructively. Consequently, the overall effect is a clearer distinction between light and dark fringes. The discussion highlights the relationship between slit count and interference patterns in diffraction.
doubledouble
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Could anyone explain why it is that as more slits are added the fringes appear sharper?

Thanks
 
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As a random shot, i would guess its because there is more superposition on the locations that should have constructive superposition, and there's more destructive interference in the positions that shouldn't have light, resulting in a sharper frindge.

This is my guess though
 
AbedeuS said:
As a random shot, i would guess its because there is more superposition on the locations that should have constructive superposition, and there's more destructive interference in the positions that shouldn't have light, resulting in a sharper frindge.
This is pretty much on the mark, even if it is a little hand-wavey - essentially having more slits introduces more constraints when it comes to meeting conditions for constructive interference. This results in thinner fringes because at some small distance away from an interference maxima, there are more destructively-interfering contributions the more slits you have.

Claude.
 
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