PURPOSE: To show single slit diffraction.
DESCRIPTION: A laser mounted on an optical bench is carefully aligned to point through a single slit. a video camera is aimed at the image seen on a ground glass screen. The video image is displayed to the class. Note that typically the first order diffraction is very bright and the second order is visbible but is more dim. The third order cannot be observed without bleaching out the first order.
The slit width and the slit spacing are .04mm.
This can also be done with a pinhole rather than a slit.
EQUIPMENT: laser, optical bench, slit, screen, video camera.
Updated by Jun Qi in 3/22/2000