enkeltslitsdiffraktion

Enkeltslitsdiffraktion, also known as single-slit diffraction, describes the phenomenon observed when a wavefront of light encounters a single slit. Instead of passing through in a straight line, the light spreads out as it passes through the opening. This spreading is a result of Huygens' principle, which states that every point on a wavefront can be considered a source of secondary spherical wavelets. These wavelets interfere with each other, leading to a characteristic diffraction pattern.

When monochromatic light, such as from a laser, passes through a narrow slit, the resulting pattern on a screen placed behind the slit consists of a bright central maximum, flanked by a series of dimmer, alternating dark and bright fringes. The central maximum is significantly wider than the other fringes. The width of the central maximum and the spacing of the fringes are inversely proportional to the width of the slit. A narrower slit produces a wider diffraction pattern, and a wider slit produces a narrower pattern.

The mathematical description of single-slit diffraction involves the relationship between the wavelength of light (λ), the width of the slit (a), and the angular position of the minima (θ). The condition for destructive interference, which creates the dark fringes, is given by the equation a sin(θ) = mλ, where m is a non-zero integer (±1, ±2, ±3, ...). The central maximum occurs at m=0. This phenomenon is fundamental in optics and has applications in spectroscopy, microscopy, and the design of optical instruments.