Young's double slit experiment with one slit covered with block of refractive index

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the Young's double slit experiment, specifically analyzing the effects of covering one slit with a block of material that has a refractive index of 1.5 and a thickness of 500nm. The intensity pattern is described by the equation I(θ)=4I0cos²(∏dsin(θ)/λ), where d is the slit separation set at 1×10-5m and λ is the wavelength of light at 500nm. The participants explore the implications of the optical path difference and how the introduction of the refractive material alters the interference pattern, particularly the maxima and minima positions.

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  • Understanding of Young's double slit experiment
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  • Knowledge of refractive indices and their effect on wavelength
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Homework Statement



The interference pattern formed is given by I(θ)=4I0cos2(∏dsin(θ)/λ). For d=1×10-5m and λ=500nm plot the intensity pattern as a function of θ for small θ. How would this change if a block of material of thickness 500nm and refractive index n=1.5 were placed over one slit (without altering the intensity from that slit)?

Please see the attachment

Homework Equations



sin(θ)≈θ
I(θ)=4I0cos2(∏dsin(θ)/λ)

maybe these:

Maxima at d sin(θ)=mλ for m=0,1,2, ...
Minima at d sin(θ)=(m+0.5)λ for m=0,1,2, ...

The Attempt at a Solution



1st maxima at θ=sin-1(0)=0 radians
1st minima at θ=sin-1(λ/2d)=0.025 radians
2nd maxima at θ=sin-1(λ/d)=0.05 radians
2nd minima at θ=sin-1(3λ/2d)=0.075 radians
3rd maxima at θ=sin-1(2λ/d)=0.1 radians

Then I subbed these into I(θ)=4I0cos2(∏dsin(θ)/λ) & plotted this with θ on the x-axis and I(θ) on the y-axis. I'm not sure is that's right but I can't seem to figure out the second part
 

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If I(θ)=4I0cos2(∏dsin(θ)/λ), then what do you know about dsin(θ)/λ?

Also, what do you know about the wavelength of light with refractive index n?
 


Rayquesto said:
If I(θ)=4I0cos2(∏dsin(θ)/λ), then what do you know about dsin(θ)/λ?

Also, what do you know about the wavelength of light with refractive index n?

Wavelength in medium, λ = λ0/n where λ0 = wavelength in vacuum

so would optical path difference, δ=r2 - (r1-t+nt)=(yd/L)-(n-1)t
where r2 = distance between slit 2 and P, r1 = distance between slit 1 and P & t=thickness of block with refractive index n ?

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to know about dsin(θ)/λ. Is it that it's equal to δ/λ?
Would the maxima for this situation occur at (yd/L)-(n-1)t=mλ or (yd/L)-(n-1)t=(m+0.5)λ?
 


Actually, your first part is correct, but as far as the second part,

Here's an idea I had in mind:

Since we know m=dsin(θ)/λ for all maximas, then you could simply find the intensity at the maximas by replacing I(θ)=4I0cos2(∏dsin(θ)/λ) with I(θ)=4I0cos2(∏m)

Just an idea.

Also what I had in mind was changing everything from double slit interference to diffraction.

When single slit interference occurs, it implies diffraction exists. Have you studied that? It differs from double slit interference by a few concepts of phase changes, if you know what I mean.
 


A9876 said:
Wavelength in medium, λ = λ0/n where λ0 = wavelength in vacuum

so would optical path difference, δ=r2 - (r1-t+nt)=(yd/L)-(n-1)t
where r2 = distance between slit 2 and P, r1 = distance between slit 1 and P & t=thickness of block with refractive index n ?

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to know about dsin(θ)/λ. Is it that it's equal to δ/λ?
Would the maxima for this situation occur at (yd/L)-(n-1)t=mλ or (yd/L)-(n-1)t=(m+0.5)λ?

I think doing this is the way to go, because the path difference depends on the difference in lamda between two light waves that interfere with one another. Forget the diffraction idea. I'm so used to thinking about these experimental type concepts with the assumption that the wavelength has to be the same no matter what. I never thought about it in this way.
 

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