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Young’s Two Slit
Interference
Equipment Needed
Flashlight Jack, Table Laser, HeNe Meter stick Multiple Slit Set Pasco Optics Bench Pasco Viewing Screen, Optics Bench Power Supply, Laser HeNe Ruler, 15in.
Introduction In this laboratory we will conduct what is known as Young’s Two-Slit Experiment. Historically this experiment was very important, as it was one of the first experiments to clearly demonstrate the wave nature of light. In this experiment a coherent source of light is passed through two closely spaced slits as shown in Figure 1. Each slit acts as an independent source of light, and the light from the two sources interfere producing alternating bright and dark fringes. This effect is easy to understand if light is a wave and thus helped to firmly establish the wave theory of light. With the advent of quantum mechanics, this experiment has taken on a new life. One of the predictions of quantum mechanics is that if viewed suitably, matter will exhibit wave properties. The first experiment to demonstrate this was carried out by Davisson and Germer in the 1920’s. In their experiment, they took a coherent beam of electrons and effectively split it between two slits. They observed an interference pattern in the position of the electrons similar to
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the one we will observe for light in our lab. Recently as technology has allowed researchers to effectively trap small numbers of atoms in a line, the Young’s Two-Slit Experiment has seen renewed interest. Now researchers can view interference of light emitted from single atoms.
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Figure 4 combines Figure 2 and Figure 3.
Figure 4 To show where the maxima are created we need to know the value of
This value was illustrated in Figure 2. Since this is the difference in distance of the two light beams from the two slits to the screen we will expect a maxima to appear at this point. Note: The maxima occur when the difference in distance equals a multiple of the wave length of the light. We also know that this difference will be equal to one multiple of the wavelength between the two beams so Equation 1 We know that Equation 2 If we assume that , then we have Substituting we get Equation 3 Rewriting Equation 3 to include multiple maxima we get Equation 4 Where m is an integer denoting each successive maxima. Similarly we can derive Equation 5 which will denote the locations of each successive minima. Safety Although these lasers are not particularly dangerous, we should take a few simple precautions to prevent the unlikely event of eye damage.
- Never look directly into the laser beam. Laser light has a high intensity and can also be easily focused. A direct shot of the laser beam on your eye will be focused by your cornea onto a small spot on your retina and can burn or possibly detach the retina.
- (^) Never hold a reflecting object by hand in front of the laser beam. This
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prevents the possibility of accidentally shining the light into your eyes.
- Keep your head above the plane of the laser beam.
- (^) Whenever the light strikes an object, there will be a reflection. At times the reflections can be almost as strong as the incident beam. Know where the reflections are and block them if necessary.
- (^) The laser has a shutter in front of the beam. When not taking data, place the shutter in front of the laser beam. Procedure Set-up
Figure 5
To begin this lab, set up the optical bench with the HeNe laser mounted on one end as shown in Figure 5. Adjust the optical bench and the laser such that the laser beam points along the axis of the optical bench. Point the optical bench so that the laser is aimed away from the center of the room. Clip a piece of paper on the viewing screen. Place the mount holding the double slits opposite the laser on the bench. Always (^1) Young’s Double-Slit Experiment 05-37-02-00.doc
Determine the position from the center of the center of each of the bright spots. Identify them with an integer counting from the middle. Going either way from your center mark the maxima should be symmetric. Graph the location of the spots versus. Perform a linear regression to determine the slop of the best-fit line that passes through your data. From your slope, determine the wavelength.
Conduct a similar analysis with the dark spots. (Remember to use Equation 5) Take the first spot to the right of center as m = 0. Plot the location of the dark spots versus. Use the linear regression to find the slope of the best-fit line that passes through the data. How does it compare with the slope you found for the maxima? Calculate the percent difference of your wavelength findings with the known value of the HeNe laser. Report Format Turn in one set per group of your interference pattern, your data analysis, and answers to the numbered questions posed in the lab hand out.
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