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Single-slit diffraction: first minimum when sin θmin = λ/a ⇒ pattern widens as λ increases.
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The diffraction pattern of a circular hole of diameter d is similar to
that of a single slit of width a.
The bright spot in the middle is the Airy disk. It has about 85% of the power in the pattern.
Minima are at:
sin θ1 = 1.22 λ/d
sin θ1 = 2.23 λ/d
sin θ1 = 3.24 λ/d
What is the diffraction pattern from a solid disk? (Hint: Babinet)
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For a slit of width a, θmin = sin-1(λ/a), so if λ>a, you don't learn anything about the details of the slit.
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The de Broglie relation is λ = h/p.
For λ≈10-10m ⇒ probe atoms
For λ≈10-14m ⇒ probe nucleus
For λ≈10-18m ⇒ probe quarks
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