diffraktsioonigradi

Diffraktsioonigradi, often shortened to diffractive grating, is an optical component with a periodic structure that divides and diffracts light into several beams travelling in different directions. The angle of diffraction is determined by the wavelength of the incident light and the spacing of the grating. This phenomenon is a result of the interference of light waves scattered from the periodic structure. Diffractive gratings are typically made by etching a series of fine parallel lines or grooves into a transparent or reflective surface.

The principle behind a diffractive grating's operation is Huygens' principle, which states that every point on a wavefront can be considered as a source of secondary spherical wavelets, and the wavefront at any later time is the envelope of these wavelets. When light encounters the grating's structure, each element of the grating acts as a source of diffracted waves. These waves then interfere constructively and destructively according to their path differences, leading to the formation of distinct diffracted beams at specific angles.

The spacing between the grating elements, known as the grating period, is a crucial parameter. A smaller grating period leads to wider angular separation of the diffracted orders for a given wavelength. Diffractive gratings find widespread applications in spectroscopy, where they are used to separate light into its constituent wavelengths, as well as in optical communication systems, beam steering, and other areas requiring precise control over light propagation.