Interference Class 3

Fresnel Biprism
❖ The biprism consists of two prisms of

Behaviors of Biprism very small refracting angles joined base
to base.
❖ is formed with an obtuse angle of
about 179o and two side angles of the
order of 30’.
❖ A biprism, in the same way, creates
two virtual sources S1 and S2. These
two virtual sources are images of the
same source S produced by refraction
and are hence coherent.
Theory: Fresnel biprism is the
same as the double-slit.
As the point O is
equidistant from S1 and
S2, the central bright
fringe of maximum
intensity occurs there.
On both sides of O,
alternate bright and dark
fringes, as shown. The
width of the dark or bright
fringe is given by equ.
β = λD/d
where D(= a + b) is the
distance of the sources
from the eyepiece.
Determination of wavelength of light
(i) Determination of fringe width :
The position of the eyepiece is read on the scale, say Xo. The micrometer
screw of the eyepiece is moved slowly and the number of the bright
fringes N that pass across the cross-wire is counted. The position of the
cross-wire is again read, say XN. The fringe width is then given by  =
(XN− Xo ) / N
(ii) Determination of ‘d’:
If u is the distance of the slit and  that of the eyepiece from the lens, then
the magnification is
 u = d1/d (i)
The lens is then moved to a position nearer to the eyepiece, where again a
pair of images of the slit is seen. The distance between the two sharp
images is again measured. Let it be d2. Again
magnification is given by
u / = d2/d (ii)
Note that the magnification in one position is the reciprocal of the
magnification in the other position.
Multiplying the equations (i) and (ii, we obtain
d = (d1 d2)0.5
Using the values of , d and D in the equation (1), the wavelength  can
be computed.
(b) Alternatively, the value of d can be determined as follows. The
deviation δ produced in the path of a ray by a thin prism is given by
δ = (μ −1)α
where α is the refracting angle of the prism. it is seen that δ = θ / 2.
Since d is very small, we can also write d = a θ.
 = d/(2a) = (μ −1)α
∴ d = 2a(μ −1)α
Interference Fringes with White Light
Formation of Fringes
➢ Two virtual coherent sources S1 and S2 are formed due to the biprism.
➢ These coherent sources interfere and create a series of overlapping patterns
corresponding to different wavelengths.
Fringe Appearance with White Light

➢ At the center, all wavelengths constructively interfere, forming a bright white
fringe.
➢ Away from the center, fringes for each wavelength (color) begin to shift due to
their different wavelengths.
➢ This results in colored fringes as the constructive and destructive
interference of different wavelengths occur at slightly different positions.
➢ Eventually, the fringes overlap and blur out due to a lack of coherence over
longer distances.
Lateral Displacement of Fringes
The optical path lengths S1O and S2O are now not equal and the central bright fringe shifts to P from O. The light
(
waves from S1 to P travel partly in air and partly in the sheet G; the distance travelled in air is S1P − t ) and that in
the sheet is t.
Problem: Interference fringes are observed with a biprism of refracting angle 1o and
refractive index 1.5 on a screen 80 cm away from it. If the distance between the
source and the biprism is 20 cm, calculate the fringe width when the wavelength of
light used is 6900Å.
Problem: In a biprism experiment the eyepiece is placed at a distance of 1.2 m
from the source. The distance between the virtual sources was found to be 7.5×10−4
m. Find the wavelength of light, if the eyepiece is to be moved transversely through
a distance of 1.888 cm for 20 fringes.
Problem: When a thin sheet of transparent material of thickness 6.3×10 − 4cm is
introduced in the path of one of the interfering beams, the central fringe shifts to a
position occupied by the sixth fringe. If λ = 5460 Å, find the refractive index of the
sheet.

Interference Class 3

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Interference Class 3

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Fresnel Biprism

❖ The biprism consists of two prisms of

Fringe Appearance with White Light

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