Physics: kongity 9.2 - Single slit diffraction

A single-slit diffraction pattern made from a monochromatic light source such as a laser.

The graph of intensity of a diffraction pattern

* The central maximum is larger than the slit width.
* The central maximum is very much more intense than the other maxima (by a factor of about twenty).
* Each successive maximum is just less than half the intensity of the previous maximum.
* The subsidiary maxima decrease in intensity the further out they get.
* The central maximum is twice the width of the other maxima, which are all evenly spaced.

The top and bottom waves coming from a slit. The path difference, x, is shown.

Halving the slit width.

The size of the gap is relative to the wavelength.

Monochromatic and white light.