Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Purpose of this Minilab Experiment with and learn about - Light intensity - Polarization - Diffraction - Interference

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics WARNING – Lasers Used in this Lab Lasers can cause permanent damage to the eye. Do not look directly into the laser beam!!! Do not aim the laser towards others!!!

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Light (and other electromagnetic radiation) carries energy. Activity 1: Light Intensity

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Example: The Sun The sun radiates 4x10 26 Joules of energy every second. The sun is 1.5x10 11 m (93.2 million miles) away from the earth. Activity 1: Light Intensity What is the intensity of solar radiation on the solar panel of a satellite?

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Earth with satellite (they both are about the same distance from the sun). R All the solar power must pass through a virtual sphere (with the earth at the surface of that sphere).  The power from the sun is spread out over the surface area of that sphere (4  R 2 ). Note: Due to reflection at the earth’s atmosphere only 250W/m 2 arrive at the earth’s surface. Activity 1: Light Intensity

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Photometer: Compares the light intensities entering the two side windows. Look through the eyepiece in the center:  Unequal color in the two half circles indicates different light intensities. Activity 1: Light Intensity Side windows

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 1: Light Intensity Equal colors in the two half circles indicates equal light intensities.

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics You can attach a variable filter disk to one side to vary the intensity on that side. 4 different filters are available: 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% (% indicates the amount of light transmitted by the filter). Activity 1: Light Intensity

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics 1.1 Measure how the light intensity changes as the light source is placed further and further away. Optics Bench Pasco light source Photometer Optics mounts (empty lens holders) Flash Light filters Point source (hole) on this side Leave some room (maybe 10cm) between filter and flash light Activity 1: Light Intensity

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 1: Light Intensity Procedure for Activity 1.1: Optics Bench 1.Rotate filter to 100% I 0 setting ( = no filtering). 2.Move point source such that photometer shows even color. 3.Record distance r. 4.Rotate filter to 75% I 0 setting. 5.Move point source such that photometer shows even color. 6.Record distance r. 7.Etc.. r I (arb. units) r …………………… r I r2r2 …………………… r2r2 I

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 1: Light Intensity Question 1: What is the relationship between intensity and distance from a point source? Hint: Think about the example we gave with the sun.

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics 1.2 Measure how much light intensity is transmitted by a polarizer. Optics Bench Pasco light source Photometer Filters Point source (hole) on this side Activity 1: Light Intensity Add a polarizer. (Don’t change distance of flash light to photometer) 1.Insert a polarizer between photometer and flash light (but do not change the distance between photometer and flash light). 2.Select 100% filter. 3.Move the Pasco light source until photometer shows equal intensity. 4.Record distance r. 5.Use I versus r (or I versus r 2 ) table to determine what I is with polarizer inserted.. r

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 2: Polarization Light has wave characteristics. Electric field vectors Direction of propagation Electric field vectors a short time later z x y

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics x y Activity 2: Polarization Now looking at the electric field vector at one particular point in space in the direction of propagation (light travels “into the screen”): t = 0 x y x y x y a little later even later even later Etc…. goes up and down This light is called “linearly polarized” (in the y-direction). E E E E Let’s symbolize it as: x y

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics x y Activity 2: Polarization Linearly polarized in the y-direction x y x y Linearly polarized in the x-direction Unpolarized light (a superposition of many “light waves” that are polarized in a random direction).

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 2: Polarization x y A polarizer (often that is a thin sheet of material) only passes light that is polarized in a certain direction: Light before passing through the polarizer. Polarizer x y Indicates polarizer orientation. x y Light after passing through the polarizer (no change).

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 2: Polarization x y Light before passing through the polarizer. Polarizer x y x y All the light is blocked by the polarizer.

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 2: Polarization x y Light before passing through the polarizer. Polarizer x y x y Only the component of that is aligned with the polarizer passes.  Reduced intensity  Changed direction of polarization.

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 2: Polarization x y = x y x y x y x y + (vector addition) E E cos (  ) E sin (  ) E cos (  )

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 2: Polarization Unpolarized light before passing through the polarizer. Polarizer x y x y …and this is why it’s called a “polarizer” x y After the light passes through the polarizer: Light is polarized.

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics 2.1 Rotate polarizers with respect to each other and observe the intensity of the light after passing through both polarizers. Optics Bench Activity 2: Polarization Answer Questions 4 and 5. Polarizers eye

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics 2.2 Measure intensity I versus , where  is the relative angle between the two polarizer orientations. Optics Bench Pasco light source Photometer Filters Point source (hole) on this side Activity 2: Polarization 1.Insert two polarizers between photometer and flash light. 2.Align the two polarizer orientations so they are the same 3.Put the filter on the side facing the Pasco light source and select the 100% filter. 4.Move the Pasco light source until photometer shows equal intensity. Polarizers Here’s an idea on how to do 2.2 (feel free to improvise otherwise):

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics 2.2 Measure intensity I versus , where is the relative angle between the two polarizer orientations. Optics Bench Pasco light source Photometer Filters Point source (hole) on this side Activity 2: Polarization 4.Select the 75% filter. 5.Slowly rotate polarizer 2 while observing the photometer. 6.Find and record all orientations  of polarizer 2 for which you see equal intensity. 7.Repeat steps 4-6 for the 50% and 25% filters. 8.Create a table with two columns:  and intensity. 9.Create a graph of intensity versus . 10.Try other plots (e.g. intensity versus cos(  ) or versus cos 2 (  )…etc.) to try to find the relationship between angle and intensity. Polarizer 1 Polarizer 2

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 3: Diffraction and Interference Shining coherent light (e.g., laser) through a small slit (or multiple slits) causes interference (a fancy word for “wave addition”) of the “light waves”. Wave fronts of light Double slit screen The wave going through this slit has to travel just a bit further to get to this particular place on the screen.  The waves from the two slits are out of phase by half a wavelength.  The two waves annihilate each other. (“destructive interference”).  There will be darkness on that place on the screen. Dark

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 3: Diffraction and Interference The waves going through both slits travel the same distance to the screen.  The waves from the two slits are in phase.  The two waves add together and have twice the amplitude (“constructive interference”).  There will be a bright spot on that place on the screen. Dark Bright

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 3: Diffraction and Interference Dark Bright Dark Bright The light exits the slits in all directions simultaneously.  A pattern of bright and dark spots appears. (called “Interference pattern”).

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 3: Diffraction and Interference The pattern of interference depends on the slit sizes, slit number, and slit separation, etc.. Single slit a (slit width) a Double slit d: separation between slits Multiple slits 3.1 Look at interference patterns of: 1)Single slits (use different slit widths) (Q7). 2)Double slits (use different slit separations) (Q8). 3)Multiple slits (keep a and d constant and vary number of slits) (Q9).

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 3: Diffraction and Interference Optics Bench LaserDisk with different slit patterns (rotate to select). Laser light Screen Laser power supply

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 3: Diffraction and Interference Hint for Question 10: For a double slit there is not only interference between the two slits but also within each slit (each slit has its own single slit interference).  Think of superposition of two effects.

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 3: Diffraction and Interference Dark Bright Dark Bright 3.2 Determine the wavelength of the laser light. 0 th order maximum (m=0) multi slit 1 st order maximum (m=1) Bright 2 nd order maximum (m=2) D y (for m=1)

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 3: Diffraction and Interference Dark Bright Dark Bright 1 st order maximum (m=1) Bright 2 y (for m=1) Hint: It is more accurate to measure 2y and then divide by 2.

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 3: Diffraction and Interference 3.3 Determine the distance d between the “grooves” of a CD d

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 3: Diffraction and Interference Method: Reflection on grooves produces also interference pattern. Laser CD (with grooves) screen D Dark Bright Dark Bright screen behind laser reflected light

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 3: Diffraction and Interference Optics Bench Laser Optics mount CD attached Laser light  10 cm Screen

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Activity 3: Diffraction and Interference Again: Use to determine d. Question 15: How many grooves are on the CD? Yes, technically there is only 1 groove on the CD that snakes its way from the outside to the center. The proper question you should answer is: How many times does this groove go around the CD?

Physics 1809 Optics 3: Physical Optics Using the Desk Lamp Dimmer Lamp Plug (black) must be plugged into dimmer plug. Dimmer plug (white) must be plugged into power outlet. On/Off switch of lamp