Interference

Interference
Coherent sources
Two source of light are said to be coherent if the light emitted by them
have same frequency, wave length and always in phase or having
constant phase difference.
laser light is an example of coherent source.
note: two independent source of light cannot be coherent because the
light emitted by them are in random phase so they are incoherent
source of light.
So coherent source can be obtained by:
• By division of wavefront (in Young’s double slit experiment).
• By division of amplitude (in Newton’s ring method).
Interference of light
From single source of light, the distribution of light energy in the
medium is uniform but two coherent source of light produce non-
uniform distribution of light energy. Thus interference is the non
uniform distribution or re-distribution of light energy in a medium due
to superposition of light wave from two coherent source.
Types of interference
I. Constructive interference
when light waves from two coherent source reach at a point in phase,
then resultant wave is equal to sum of amplitude of two waves. The
intensity of light at that point is maximum. This is called constructive
interference.
Condition for constructive interference
• Two superposing wave must be in phase.
• The path difference must be integral multiple of λ.
• The phase difference must be integral multiple of 2𝜋.
• Resultant amplitude must be 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐴2𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐴1 + 𝐴2 2
• If 𝐴1 = 𝐴2 = 𝐴 𝑠𝑎𝑦 , 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 4𝐴2
I. Destructive interference
when light waves from two source reach at a point is in out of phase,
then resultant amplitude of two waves is 0. The intensity of light at that
point is minimum. This is called destructive interference.
Condition for constructive interference
• Two superposing wave must be out of phase.
• The resultant amplitude is minimum.
𝐴𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝐴1 − 𝐴2
• The resultant intensity is minimum.
Optical path
The product of distance travel by light in the medium and refractive
index of that medium is called optical path
i.e. optical path = µd
Let us consider a denser medium in which light travel with a velocity ‘v’.
If distance travel by the light in the medium is ‘d’ then
𝑑
𝑡= 1
𝑣
In the same time distance travel by light in space is,
L=ct 2
And refractive index of the medium is,
𝐶
𝜇= 3
𝑣
From equation 1,2 and 3
𝑑 𝐶𝑑
𝐿= 𝐶 = = 𝜇𝑑
𝑣 𝑣
This is optical path.
Condition for sustained interference of light
• Two source of light must be coherent.
• Amplitude of waves from two source must be equal.
• Two source must be monochromatic.
• Two coherent source must be very close to each other.
Theory of interference of light
Consider a narrow slit S is illuminated with monochromatic source of

light at suitable distance from S there are two fine slit 𝑆1 and 𝑆2 about
0.5mm apart and at equidistance from S. A screen is placed at far
distance from slits 𝑆1 and 𝑆2 , where alternate bright and dark fringe is
obtained as shown in figure.
From slit S spherical wavefront are spread out. The wavefront reaching
to slits 𝑆1 and 𝑆2 produce secondary wavefront of same amplitudes and
frequencies superpose to produce interference.
Conditions for constructive and destructive interference
Suppose 𝑆1 and 𝑆2 are two fine slits at a small distance ‘d’. Let the slit
are illuminated by monochromatic light from source ‘S’ of wavelength λ
and MN is a screen at a distance ‘D’ from the double slits. Two wave
starting from 𝑆1 and 𝑆2 superimpose upon each other resulting
interference on the screen.
D
Analytical treatment of interference
Let two coherent waves having amplitude 𝑎1 and𝑎2 meet at a point
with phase ∅ . Then displacement of the resultant wave is,
𝑦 = 𝑦1 + 𝑦2
Where,
𝑦1 = 𝑎1 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡 1
𝑦2 = 𝑎2 sin⁡(𝜔𝑡 + ∅) 2
then
𝑦 = 𝑎1 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡 + 𝑎2 sin⁡(𝜔𝑡 + ∅)
= 𝑎1 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡 + 𝑎2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡⁡𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ + 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡 sin∅
⁡⁡⁡⁡= 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡(𝑎1 + 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅) +(𝑎2 sin∅) 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡
let 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 3
⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡𝑎2 sin∅ = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 4
So,
𝑦 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡⁡𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡⁡𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑦 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑤𝑡 + 𝜃 ⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡5
This is the equation of resultant disturbance . Comparing 1, 2 and 5. it
is seen that the resultant wave have same nature as that of ndividual
wave where A is amplitude and 𝜃⁡is⁡phase⁡difference.
Again squaring and adding equation 3 and 4
𝐴2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 2 + 𝐴2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 2 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ 2 + 𝑎2 𝑠𝑖𝑛∅ 2
𝐴2 = 𝑎12 + 𝑎22 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 ∅ + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 ∅ + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅
𝐴2 = 𝑎12 + 𝑎22 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅
𝐴= 𝑎12 + 𝑎22 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

As we know intensity of wave is proportional to square of amplitude
Then,
𝐼1 ∝ 𝑎12 𝐼2 ∝ 𝑎22
I ∝ 𝐴2
Now,
𝐼 ∝ 𝑎12 + 𝑎22 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅
𝐼 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 + 2 𝐼1 𝐼2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ 6
For constructive interference,
Intensity will be maximum
𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥 when 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ = +1
then ∅ = 0,2𝜋, 4𝜋
∅ = 2𝑛𝜋 (where n=0,1,2,3…..) 7
If x is the path difference then,
2𝜋
∅ = .𝑥
λ
2𝜋
2𝑛𝜋 = . 𝑥
λ
𝑥 = 𝑛λ 8
For destructive interference,
Intensity will be minimum
𝐼𝑚𝑖𝑛 when 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ = −1
then ∅ = 𝜋, 3𝜋, 5𝜋
∅ = (2𝑛 + 1)𝜋 (where n=0,1,2,3…..) 9
If x is the path difference then,
2𝜋
∅= .𝑥
λ
2𝜋
(2𝑛 + 1)𝜋 = .𝑥
λ
λ
𝑥 = (2𝑛 + 1) 10
2

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Interference

Consider a narrow slit S is illuminated with monochromatic source of

𝐴2 = 𝑎12 + 𝑎22 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 ∅ + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 ∅ + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

𝐴2 = 𝑎12 + 𝑎22 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

𝐴= 𝑎12 + 𝑎22 + 2𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

𝐼𝑚𝑖𝑛 when 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ = −1

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