Diffraction

Diffraction

1. Any bending of light by means other than reflection and refraction.

   • EX:
     • When plane waves meet the barrier, they continue through with some distortion. Where the opening is wide, the waves continue through the opening almost without change. At the two ends of the opening, however, the waves bend
   • Diffraction is not confined to narrow slits or to openings in general but can be seen around the edges of all shadows.
     • Diffraction posses a problem when you are viewing very small objects with a light microscope. If the size of an object is about the same as the wavelength of light, diffraction blurs the image. If the object is smaller than the wavelength of light, no structure can be seen
       • No amount of magnification or perfection of microscope design can defeat this fundamental diffraction limit