Interference of Light

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts associated with the interference of light as discussed in the lecture notes.

Interference of Light

The non-uniform distribution of light intensity resulting from the superposition of two coherent waves.

Coherent Sources

Two sources that emit light waves of the same frequency, nearly the same amplitude, and have a constant phase difference.

Constructive Interference

Occurs when two waves meet in phase, resulting in a bright fringe and maximum intensity.

Destructive Interference

Occurs when two waves meet out of phase, resulting in a dark fringe and minimum intensity.

Young’s Double Slit Experiment

An experimental demonstration of interference by superposition of two coherent light waves.

Path Difference

The difference in the distance traveled by two waves that contribute to interference.

Phase Change upon Reflection

A 180° phase change occurs when a wave reflects off a medium of higher refractive index.

Newton's Rings

An interference pattern created by the superposition of light reflected from the upper and lower surfaces of a thin film.

Michelson Interferometer

An instrument that uses the principle of division of amplitude to produce interference patterns.

Antireflection Coating

A thin film applied to optics to decrease reflection losses and enhance transmitted light.

Interference Filter

An optical device that transmits a narrow range of wavelengths using constructive interference of thin films.

Phase Reversal Condition for Antireflection Coating

The coating material's refractive index must be less than that of the glass and approximately equal to the square root of the refractive index of the glass.

Applications of Newton's Rings

Used for determining the wavelength of monochromatic light, measuring the refractive index of liquids, and other optical measurements.

Applications of Michelson Interferometer

Measurement of wavelength, differences in wavelengths, and thickness of thin materials.

Thin Film Interference

Interference due to the overlapping of light waves reflected from different surfaces of a thin film.

Fizeau Fringes

Fringes of equal width arising from interference of light in thin films of varying thickness.

Haidinger's Fringes

Fringes of equal inclination formed in the Michelson interferometer.

Superposition Principle

States that the resultant displacement from the interference of multiple waves is the vector sum of the individual displacements.

Wavelength

The distance over which the wave's shape repeats, typically measured in nanometers for visible light.

Refractive Index

A measure of how much light bends when it enters a material.

Photons

Tiny particle-like packets of optical energy that represent light in quantum optics.