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Chapter 4 Interference by the Division of the Wavefront

4.1 Theory

There are two methods for producing two coherent sources. One method involves the division of the wavefront as in the Youngs double slit experiment and the second method involves the division of the amplitude as in the Micheslson interferometer. In this experiemnt we study two arrangements for producing inteference by wavefront division and use these to determine the wavelength of light. Refer to Chapter 13 of Jenkins and White or Section 9.3 of Hecht for a discussion of Lloyds Mirror and Fresnels Biprism.

4.1.1

Lloyds Mirror

Lloyds mirror is a mirror or a glass plate used to produce interference fringes by superposing the light from a slit source with the light from the virtual image of that slit source, as shown in Fig. (4.1). A part of the incident wavefront from source S1 is intercepted by the mirror and is reected back. The reected wavefront overlaps the wavefront coming directly from the source S1 in the region shaded region and produces interference. The reected wavefront appears to come from the virtual image S2 of S1 . Thus in the shaded region we have two source interference. Line EF is the perpendicular bisector of S1 S2 . F is therefore equidistant from S1 and S2 . If the distance y of point P from F is small compared to D the angle is small and will be given 38

4.1. THEORY

39

P S1 a E
glass plate or mirror

S2 D

Figure 4.1: Formation of fringes in the Lloyds mirror setup. by = or a . (4.2) D Since the reected beam suers a phase change of upon reection from the mirror the location of the bright fringe of order m ( corresponding to 2/ + = 2m) on the screen EF will be =y ym = m 1 2 a , D (4.3) y = , a D (4.1)

where a is the separation between the sources S1 and S2 , and D is the source to screen distance. We can determine the wavelength of light from measurements of the fringe separation. If ym and yn denote the locations of fringes of order m and n, respectively, 2 n 2 m + = 2 n , + = 2 m , (4.4) (4.5)

40 CHAPTER 4. INTERFERENCE BY THE DIVISION OF THE WAVEFRONT

where is the wavelength of the light. Rearranging and subtracting these equations, we nd that = or a . (4.7) D Hence, to determine , we simply measure the width of an interference fringe (center-to-center distance between two successive fringes), the separation a between S1 and S2 , and the distance D. The extra phase change of experienced by the reected beam may be veried by placing a screen ush with the end of the mirror or the glass plate. Since the real slit S1 and its virtual image S2 are equidistant from the line where the mirror and receptor touch, we might expect to see a bright fringe due to constructive interference. The dark fringe one sees instead veries the relative phase change suered by the beam reected by the mirror. = (fringe width) n m = nm yn ym nm a , D (4.6)

4.1.2

Fresnels Biprism

The arrangement from Fresnel biprism is shown in Fig. (4.2). The biprism consists of two small angle prisms joined together at their bases. When a wavefront from the source S is incident, the upper portion of the wavefront is refracted downward and the lower portion is refracted upward. The refracted wavefronts appear to come from virtual sources S1 and S2 . They overlap in the shaded region and produce inteference fringes. If a be the separation beteween S1 and S2 and d+D be the source to screen separation, the location of the m-th bright fringe is given by ym = m D+d a , (4.8)

where y is measured from the center of the interference pattern. Just as in the Lloyds mirror experiment, the wavelength of light can be determined from measurements of fringe separation in the interference pattern.

4.2

Experimental Procedure
Make at least three measurements of each quantity and then determine its average and the standard deviation.

4.2. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

41

S1 a S S2 a=d d D
P

Figure 4.2: An outline of Fresnels biprism setup.

Qty. Description 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 optical bench mirror or glass plate to serve as Lloyds mirror eyepiece with micrometer-motion crosshairs one translating stage to mount eyepiece on bench adjustable, rotating slit to accomodate alignment with mirror mercury discharge tube with green lter (Pasco 9113) sodium discharge tube positive lens used to measure a only Table 4.1: Apparatus for the LLoyds Mirror experiment.

42 CHAPTER 4. INTERFERENCE BY THE DIVISION OF THE WAVEFRONT

green filter

lens (for measurement of d only ) Lloyd's mirror

Mercury lamp

slit 100 cm

eye piece

Figure 4.3: Outline of the experimental setup.

4.2.1

Determination of

Arrange the apparatus on the optical bench as shown in Fig. 4.3. Rotate the slit in its mount so that it is parallel to the plane of the mirror. Study the eect of changing the slit width and its orientation on fringe contrast and adjust the slit width and orientation for maximum clarity. Note that because of diraction at the edge of the mirror, the fringe width varies a little near the mirror do not use the rst three or four fringes for measurements. D is the distance from the real slit to the cross hairs of the eyepiece and may be measured directly on the optical bench. The cross hairs inside the micrometer eyepiece are located at the front face of the plate to which the eyepiece is attached. To determine the source separation a use a positive lens to form images of S and S in the focal plane of the eyepiece. The distance between the two slit images viewed through the eyepiece can then be measured with the eyepiece micrometer. (Generally ve turns of the eyepiece micrometer is equal to 1.25mm of travel. Conrm this by calibrating the eyepiece micrometer.) If we call this distance R, we see that so a = , R si (4.9)

where so is the object distance (the distance from the real slit to the positive lens), and si is the image distance (the distance from the positive lens to the focal plane of the eyepiece). Obviously, D = so + si. Determine a both before and after measuring the interference fringe width, to ensure the setup has not changed. The positive lens is to be placed on the bench only when measuring a. Remove the positive lens from the bench when measuring the interference fringe width. Make one determination of the wavelength of the green line of mercury.

4.2. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

43

Filter

Primary source

slit d D

eye piece

Figure 4.4: Outline of the experimental setup. As always, make at least three measurements of the fringe width for each wavelength. Be sure to note the uncertainty in all of your measurements, especially that of measuring the fringe width. Record these measurements in Table 4.2. You will nd it convenient to count several fringes at a time while moving the cross hairs across the eld of view. Then divide the distance traveled by the number of fringes counted to obtain fringe separation. The accepted value for the green line of mercury is Hg 546.1 nm. Also study colored interference fringes in this experiment by removing the green lter. Notice the order of colors in interference fringes and comment on their visibility. Experimental arrangement for Fresnels biprism is shown in Fig. 4.4. Replace the mercury source with a sodium lamp. Adjust slit orientation and width to obtain sharp fringes. Use micrometer to determine fringe separation. Distances d and D are directly measurable. It remains now to measure the linear separation a between the virtual sources S1 and S2 . Since the prism angle is small ( 1o ) source separation is given by a d. (4.10)

The angular separation between the virtual sources can be measured using a spectrometer. If parallel light from the collimator illuminates both halves of the biprisms, two images are produced and the angular separation between them is easily measured. Virtual source separation is also given by a 2d(n 1) , (4.11)

where n is the refractive index of the prism. Prism angle can again be determined by using a spectrometer. Use one of these methods to determine a. The accepted value of wavelength for the yellow line of sodium is Na 589.3 nm. Record your data in Table 4.3

44 CHAPTER 4. INTERFERENCE BY THE DIVISION OF THE WAVEFRONT

4.3

Experimental Data

4.3.1

Lloyds Mirror

trial 1 trial 2 trial 3 average std dev Rbefore so,before si,before abefore # of fringes distance traveled fringe width Rafter so,after si,after aafter Hg
Table 4.2: Determination of the wavelength of mercury green line. D = .

4.3. EXPERIMENTAL DATA

45

Draw a sketch and explain the technique used to determine a.

4.3.2

Fresnels Biprism

trial 1 trial 2 trial 3 average std dev # of fringes distance traveled fringe width a Na
Table 4.3: Determination of wavelength by Fresnels biprism. D = ; d = .

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