2 - Two Source Interference. Single Slit Diffraction

Question 1

What is the expression:

x = d * sin(theta) = m * lambda

or (m + 1/2) * lambda

Answer 1

x represents the path difference between rays r_1 and r_2

m * lambda is the number of wavelengths contained in x

Theta is the angle from the normal (to the slit) to the wavelength.

d is the distance between the centres of the two slits

Question 2

What is Young’s double-slit experiment?

Answer 2

The double-slit experiment is a demonstration that light and matter can display characteristics of both classically defined waves and particles; moreover, it displays the fundamentally probabilistic nature of quantum mechanical phenomena.

In a modern version of Young’s experiment, differing in its essentials only in the source of light, a laser equally illuminates two parallel slits in an otherwise opaque surface. The light passing through the two slits is observed on a distant screen.

Question 3

How do you calculate the separation of two slits?

Answer 3

d * sin(theta) = m * lambda

Question 4

What is the time average function?

Answer 4

< f(t) > = 1/(b-a) * ∫^b_a f(t’) dt’

Question 5

What is the relationship between the electric field and the intensity of light?

Answer 5

I = 1/2 * epsilon_0 * c * |E|^2