5.4 - Double Slit Interference

5.4 - Double Slit Interference

1. Young's Double Slit Experiment

   • What was it?
     • A source of light is directed through a single slit, which then diffracts and illuminates a double slit.
       • Light passing through the double slits diffract to produce bright and dark fringes on a screen
       • Double slits act as a source of coherence, emitting waves with a constant phase difference and with the same frequency
       • Monochromatic light (e.g. a laser) can also be used instead of the light source and single slit.
   • Why was it needed?
     • To prove that light acted as a wave
   • What were the results?
     • Bright fringes
       • Light from one slit reinforces the other
       • Light arrives in phase.
     • Dark fringes
       • Light from one slit cancels the other.
       • Light arrives 180 degrees out of phase.

2. Calculations

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