Diffraction of light waves11/29/2023 ![]() ![]() In an interference pattern, all brilliant fringes have the same intensity. It indicates that there is no phase difference between the waves emitted by the sources, or that the sources are coherent. When it comes to diffraction, the superposition begins with distinct segments of the same wavefronts. It indicates that the two waves are not coherent or that there is a phase discrepancy between them. In interference, the superposition of waves begins with changing wavefronts. In diffraction, the spacing of the fringes is not uniform. In interference, the spacing of the fringes is uniform. Interference does not need the presence of an obstruction or slit.įor interference, a slit or obstacle is required. In the diffraction patterns, we study coherent waves.Īfter interference, the direction of wave propagation remains constant.Īfter diffraction, the direction of wave propagation remains constant. The waves have a consistent phase difference, which is why they are referred to as coherent waves. In the same material environment, wave superposition occurs.Ĭracks and obstacles should be the same length. ![]() In the same elastic environment, waves in an interference pattern remain away from the original path. Waves propagate behind obstacles, causing interference.ĭiffraction is a process in which certain points in the wave oscillations' space are amplified while others are canceled or adjusted. Let us now distinguish between light interference and diffraction: In Physics, the difference between interference and diffraction is well explained in the table above. The intensity of minima in a diffraction pattern is never zero, and the contrast between a dark and a brilliant fringe or fringes is low. In addition, the contrast between the black and brilliant fringe is excellent. In an interference pattern, the intensity at minima is frequently very low or near zero, resulting in black minima. We discover that interference has a high number of fringes. In the case of diffraction, the contrast between maxima and minima is low. In interference, we see a good contrast between peaks and minima. In interference, all maxima have the same magnitude of intensity. This means that diffraction fringes are broad near the obstruction and get smaller as you get closer to the shadow side. It means that the amount of light fringes in an interference pattern has the same magnitude of intensity. It signifies that the intensity of subsequent fringes in a diffraction pattern decreases. We also observed that bright fringes had the same intensity as dark fringes. In diffraction, the width of the fringes varies. In interference, the fringe width is usually constant. The superposition of secondary wavelets from different parts of the wavelength causes diffraction. The superposition or overlapping of two waveforms originating from two distinct coherent sources causes interference. There are a few other criteria that distinguish diffraction from interference, in addition to these few distinctions which are tabulated below. It's essential to understand the fundamental differences between them by looking at the region of least intensity in interference, this region is extremely dark, but in diffraction, it's less dark. Interference is a feature caused by waves from two independent coherent sources, whereas Diffraction is caused by secondary wavelets that originate from the same wave but occur in various areas of it. The resultant wave may be of larger, lower, or of equal amplitude depending on the nature of the superimposition or alignment of the overlapping waves' peaks and troughs.ĭifference between Interference and Diffraction Interference is the phenomenon in which two or more waves collide and superimpose to generate a new wave. Transmission, absorption and reflection of light Resolving power of microscopes and telescopes Coherent and Incoherent Addition of Waves
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