When there is a need to separate light of different wavelengths with high resolution, then a diffraction grating is most often the tool of choice. This 'super prism' aspect of the diffraction grating leads to application for measuring atomic spectra in both laboratory instruments and telescopes. A large number of parallel, closely spaced slits constitutes a diffraction grating. The condition for maximum intensity is the same as that for the double slit or multiple slits, but with a large number of slits the intensity maximum is very sharp and narrow, providing the high resolution for spectroscopic applications. The peak intensities are also much higher for the grating than for the double slit.
When light of a single wavelength , like the 632.8nm red light from a helium-neon laser at left, strikes a diffraction grating it is diffracted to each side in multiple orders. Orders 1 and 2 are shown to each side of the direct beam. Different wavelengths are diffracted at different angles, according to the grating relationship. |
- A grating is said to be a transmission or reflection grating according to whether it is transparent or mirrored—that is, whether it is ruled on glass or on a thin metal film deposited on a glass blank.
- A diffraction grating is a large number of evenly spaced parallel slits. (a) Light passing through is diffracted in a pattern similar to a double slit, with bright regions at various angles. (b) The pattern obtained for white light incident on a grating.
- One can imagine that in the limit where very many slits are used (a device called a diffraction grating), that the result is very sharp, very bright lines lines at the points of maximum constructive interference, and darkness everywhere else. As we will see, this will be an extremely useful feature.
- Grating synonyms, grating pronunciation, grating translation, English dictionary definition of grating. (General Physics) short for diffraction.
What happens when there's way more then two holes? Created by David SantoPietro.Watch the next lesson: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/light-wave.
- A grating is said to be a transmission or reflection grating according to whether it is transparent or mirrored—that is, whether it is ruled on glass or on a thin metal film deposited on a glass blank.
- A diffraction grating is a large number of evenly spaced parallel slits. (a) Light passing through is diffracted in a pattern similar to a double slit, with bright regions at various angles. (b) The pattern obtained for white light incident on a grating.
- One can imagine that in the limit where very many slits are used (a device called a diffraction grating), that the result is very sharp, very bright lines lines at the points of maximum constructive interference, and darkness everywhere else. As we will see, this will be an extremely useful feature.
- Grating synonyms, grating pronunciation, grating translation, English dictionary definition of grating. (General Physics) short for diffraction.
What happens when there's way more then two holes? Created by David SantoPietro.Watch the next lesson: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/light-wave.
Illustration | Calculation |
Transmission Grating In Physics
Grating diffraction of helium-neon laser |