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Diffraction of laser beam using wire mesh,

cross wire and grating

AIM: i) To observe the diffraction pattern of laser using wire mesh and
to determine the groove spacing of the wire mesh.
ii) To observe the diffraction pattern of laser using cross wire and to
calculate the diameter of the wire
iii) To observe the diffraction pattern of laser using grating and hence to
calculate the number of lines per unit length of the grating.
APPARATUS: Laser, wire mesh, cross wire, grating, meter scale etc.
PRINCIPLE AND PROCEDURE: i) Diffraction of laser using wire
mesh or cross wire:
Diffraction is the phenomenon of bending of light around an obstacle or
spreading of light waves by passing through an aperture where, the size of
the obstacle or opening is comparable to the wave length of light. Let the
monochromatic laser light of wave length λ be incident normally on the wire
mesh or cross wire. When the diffracted light is focussed on to a screen, dark
and bright spots can be seen on the screen. The screen is arranged to be at
a distance D from the wire mesh or cross wire.
Let θm bethe angle subtended between the central maximum and the mth
order maximum and ym be the distance on the screen from the mth order
maximum and the central maximum. From the equation for diffraction:

d(sin θi + sin θm ) = mλ (1)

where d is the groove spacing for wire mesh and diameter of the wire for cross
wire. Since the laser beam is incident normally, θi = 0. Hence the equation
reduces to

d= (2)
sin θm

1
The angle θm for each m can be obtained from ym and D as
ym
tan θm = . (3)
D
The laser source is switched on and allowed to fall normally on the wire
mesh or cross wire. Sketch the diffraction pattern obtained on the screen on
a graph paper. Measure the distance D between the wire mesh(cross wire)
and the screen. Determine the distance ym for different orders of maxima and
the central maximum. Then the diameter of the wire or the groove spacing
of the mesh can be calculated from the above equation.
ii) Number of lines per unit length of a grating:
Let a monochromatic laser light of wave length λ be incident normally on
a grating. The light diffracted by the grating can be focussed on a screen at
a distance D from the grating. Diffraction bands with a zero order principal
maximum at the centre and different orders of maxima on both sides of
central maximum are obtained on the screen.
The condition for maximum is

d sin θm = mλ (4)

where d is the grating constant which is equal to 1/N , with N being the
number of lines per unit length of the grating.
By plotting the diffraction pattern on a graph paper, the distances of
various maxima from the central maximum ym are measured. Then θm can
be obtained from
ym
tan θm = . (5)
D
Calculate d from different orders and N is determined from the average value
of d.

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