Waves & Diffraction

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Lectures

  • Lecture 0. [Invitation to Optics]
  • Lecture 1. [Classification of Diffraction]
  • Lecture 2. [Fresnel Diffraction]
  • Lecture 3. [Zone Plate]
  • Lecture 4. [Fresnel Diffraction Integral]
  • Lecture 5. [Fraunhofer Diffraction]
  • Lecture 6. [Double Slit]
  • Lecture 7. [Transmission Grating]
  • Lecture 8. [Dispersive & Resolving Power]
  • Lecture 9. [Wave Equation]
  • Lecture 10. [Superposition of Waves]

Numerical Problems

Study Materials

  1. Optics - Ajay Ghatak.
  2. Principles of Optics - Max Born and Emil Wolf.
  3. Fundamentals of Optics - F.A. Jenkins and H.E. White.
  4. Waves: Berkeley Physics Course (Vol.3) - Francis Crawford.
  5. The Principles of Physical Optics - Ernst Mach.
  6. Optics - Eugene Hecht.
  7. Principles of Optics - B.K.Mathur.
  8. Waves and Oscillations - N.K.Bajaj.
  9. The Physics of Vibrations and Waves - H.J.Pain.

Topics

  1. Diffraction:
    • Fresnel Diffraction: Fresnel’s Assumptions. Fresnel’s Half-Period Zones for Plane Wave. Explanation of Rectilinear Propagation of Light. Theory of a Zone Plate: Multiple Foci of a Zone Plate. Fresnel’s Integral, Fresnel diffraction pattern of a straight edge, a slit.
    • Fraunhofer Diffraction: Single slit. Circular aperture (solution may be assumed), Resolving Power of a telescope. Double slit. Multiple slits. Diffraction grating. Resolving power of grating. Rayleigh criterion for resolution.

  2. Wave Motion: Plane and Spherical Waves. Longitudinal and Transverse Waves. Plane Progressive (Traveling) Waves. Wave Equation for travelling waves . Particle and Wave Velocities. (Solution of spherical wave equation may be assumed)

  3. Superposition of Harmonic Waves:
    • Transverse Vivrations: Velocity of Transverse Vibrations of Stretched Strings, Standing (Stationary) Waves in a String: Fixed and Free Ends. Analytical Treatment. Changes with respect to Position and Time. Energy of Vibrating String. Transfer of Energy. Normal Modes of Stretched Strings. (form of the solution of wave equation may be assumed). Plucked and Struck Strings.
    • Superposition: Superposition of N Harmonic Waves. Phase and Group Velocities.

Remarks

  • Typical transmission grating costs 150-200$ + shipping, roughly 15K INR. Typical replica grating in India costs Rs.500/-.