An interference pattern is produced by light with a wavelength 520 nm from a distant source incident on two identical parallel slits separated by a distance (between centers) of 0.440 mm. 1. If the slits are very narrow, what would be the angular position of the first-order, two-slit, interference maxima?
2. What would be the angular position of the second-order, two-slit, interference maxima in this case?
3. Let the slits have a width 0.310 mm . In terms of the intensity I0 at the center of the central maximum, what is the intensity at the angular position of θ1?
4. What is the intensity at the angular position of θ2?

1) θ = 0.00118 rad, 2)  θ = 0.00236 rad , 3) I / I₀ = 0.1738, 4)  I / Io = 0.216

Explanation:

In the double-slit interference phenomenon it is explained for constructive interference by the equation

          d sin θ = m λ

1) the first order maximum occurs for m = 1

           sin θ = λ  / d

           θ = sin⁻¹ λ  / d

let's reduce the magnitudes to the SI system

           λ  = 520 nm = 520 10⁻⁹  θ = 0.00118 radm

           d = 0.440 mm = 0.440 10⁻³ m ³

let's calculate

           θ = sin⁻¹ (520 10⁻⁹ / 0.44 10⁻³)

            θ = sin⁻¹ (1.18 10⁻³)

            θ = 0.00118 rad

2) the second order maximum occurs for m = 2

            θ = sin⁻¹ (m λ  / d)

            θ = sin⁻¹ (2 5¹20 10⁻⁹ / 0.44 10⁻³)

            θ = 0.00236 rad

3) To calculate the intensity of the interference spectrum, the diffraction phenomenon must be included, so the equation remains

          I = I₀ cos² (π d sin θ /λ ) sinc² (pi b sin θ /λ )

where the function sinc = sin x / x

and b is the width of the slits

we caption the values

             x = π 0.310 10⁻³ sin 0.00118 / 520 10⁻⁹)

             x = 2.21

            I / I₀ = cos² (π 0.44 10⁻³ sin 0.00118 / 520 10⁻⁹) (sin (2.21) /2.21)²

remember angles are in radians

            I / I₀ = cos² (3.0945) [0.363] 2

            I / I₀ = 0.9978 0.1318

            I / I₀ = 0.1738

4) the maximum second intensity is

            I / I₀ = cos² (π d sinθ / λ) sinc² (πb sin θ /λ)

            x =π 0.310 10⁻³ sin 0.00236 / 520 10⁻⁹)

            x = 4.41

            I / Io = cos² (π 0.44 10⁻³ sin 0.00236 / 520 10⁻⁹) (sin 4.41 / 4.41)²

            I / Io = cos² 6.273    0.216

            I / Io = 0.216

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terd muffin is the correct answer