Diffraction Gratings

Learning objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Discuss the pattern obtained from diffraction gratings
• Explain diffraction grating effects

Diffraction Gratings: An Infinite Number of Slits

The analysis of multi-slit interference in Interference allows us to consider what happens when the number of slits N approaches infinity. Recall that $N–2$ secondary maxima appear between the principal maxima. We can see there will be an infinite number of secondary maxima that appear, and an infinite number of dark fringes between them. This makes the spacing between the fringes, and therefore the width of the maxima, infinitesimally small. Furthermore, because the intensity of the secondary maxima is proportional to $1\text{/}{N}^2$, it approaches zero so that the secondary maxima are no longer seen. What remains are only the principal maxima, now very bright and very narrow (CNX_UPhysics_37_04_GratPatt).

In reality, the number of slits is not infinite, but it can be very large—large enough to produce the equivalent effect. A prime example is an optical element called a diffraction grating. A diffraction grating can be manufactured by carving glass with a sharp tool in a large number of precisely positioned parallel lines, with untouched regions acting like slits (CNX_UPhysics_37_04_Grating). This type of grating can be photographically mass produced rather cheaply. Because there can be over 1000 lines per millimeter across the grating, when a section as small as a few millimeters is illuminated by an incoming ray, the number of illuminated slits is effectively infinite, providing for very sharp principal maxima.

Diffraction gratings work both for transmission of light, as in CNX_UPhysics_37_04_GratPatt2, and for reflection of light, as on butterfly wings and the Australian opal in CNX_UPhysics_37_04_Butterfly. Natural diffraction gratings also occur in the feathers of certain birds such as the hummingbird. Tiny, finger-like structures in regular patterns act as reflection gratings, producing constructive interference that gives the feathers colors not solely due to their pigmentation. This is called iridescence.

Applications of Diffraction Gratings

Where are diffraction gratings used in applications? Diffraction gratings are commonly used for spectroscopic dispersion and analysis of light. What makes them particularly useful is the fact that they form a sharper pattern than double slits do. That is, their bright fringes are narrower and brighter while their dark regions are darker. Diffraction gratings are key components of monochromators used, for example, in optical imaging of particular wavelengths from biological or medical samples. A diffraction grating can be chosen to specifically analyze a wavelength emitted by molecules in diseased cells in a biopsy sample or to help excite strategic molecules in the sample with a selected wavelength of light. Another vital use is in optical fiber technologies where fibers are designed to provide optimum performance at specific wavelengths. A range of diffraction gratings are available for selecting wavelengths for such use.

Calculating Typical Diffraction Grating Effects

Strategy

Since there are 10,000 lines per centimeter, each line is separated by 1/10,000 of a centimeter. Once we know the angles, we an find the distances along the screen by using simple trigonometry.

Solution

1. The distance between slits is $d=\left(1\text{cm}\right)\text{/}10,000=1.00\times {10}^{\mathrm{-4}}\text{cm or}1.00\times {10}^{\mathrm{-6}}\text{m}.$ Let us call the two angles ${\theta }_{\text{V}}$ for violet (380 nm) and ${\theta }_{\text{R}}$ for red (760 nm). Solving the equation $d\text{sin}{\theta }_{\text{V}}=m\lambda \text{for}\text{sin}{\theta }_{\text{V}},$
   $\text{sin}{\theta }_{\text{V}}=\frac{m{\lambda }_{\text{V}}}{d},$
   where $m=1$ for the first-order and ${\lambda }_{\text{V}}=380\text{nm}=3.80\times {10}^{\mathrm{-7}}\text{m}.$ Substituting these values gives
   $\text{sin}{\theta }_{\text{V}}=\frac{3.80\times {10}^{\mathrm{-7}}\text{m}}{1.00\times {10}^{\mathrm{-6}}\text{m}}=0.380.$
   Thus the angle ${\theta }_{\text{V}}$ is
   ${\theta }_{\text{V}}={\text{sin}}^{\mathrm{-1}}0.380=22.33\text{°}.$
   Similarly,
   $\text{sin}{\theta }_{\text{R}}=\frac{7.60\times {10}^{\mathrm{-7}}\text{m}}{1.00\times {10}^{\mathrm{-6}}\text{m}}=0.760.$
   Thus the angle ${\theta }_{\text{R}}$ is
   ${\theta }_{\text{R}}={\text{sin}}^{\mathrm{-1}}0.760=49.46\text{°}.$
   Notice that in both equations, we reported the results of these intermediate calculations to four significant figures to use with the calculation in part (b).
2. The distances on the secreen are labeled $y_{\text{V}}\text{and}{y}_{\text{R}}$ in CNX_UPhysics_37_04_WhtLtDiffr. Notice that $\text{tan}\theta =y\text{/}x.$ We can solve for $y_{\text{V}}\text{and}{y}_{\text{R}}.$ That is,
   $y_{\text{V}}=x\text{tan}{\theta }_V=\left(2.00\text{m}\right)\left(\text{tan}22.33\text{°}\right)=0.815\text{m}$
   and
   $y_{\text{R}}=x\text{tan}{\theta }_R=\left(2.00\text{m}\right)\left(\text{tan}49.46\text{°}\right)=2.338\text{m}.$
   The distance between them is therefore
   $y_{\text{R}}-y_{\text{V}}=1.523\text{m}.$

Significance

Summary

• A diffraction grating consists of a large number of evenly spaced parallel slits that produce an interference pattern similar to but sharper than that of a double slit.
• Constructive interference occurs when $d\text{sin}\theta =m\lambda \text{for}m=0,\pm 1,\pm 2,\mathrm{...},$ where d is the distance between the slits, $\theta$ is the angle relative to the incident direction, and m is the order of the interference.

Problems

Glossary

diffraction grating

large number of evenly spaced parallel slits