Effect of Blue Light on Double-Slit Interference Pattern

Understanding Double-Slit Interference Pattern

Double-slit interference is a well-known experiment in physics that demonstrates the wave-like nature of light. When light passes through two closely spaced slits, it creates an interference pattern on a screen placed behind the slits. This pattern consists of alternating bright and dark fringes.

When red light is used in a double-slit interference experiment, the bright fringes are separated by a certain distance on the screen. However, if blue light with a shorter wavelength is substituted for red light while keeping all other variables constant, the bright fringes will appear closer together.

Explanation of the Effect of Blue Light

Blue light has a shorter wavelength compared to red light. The wavelength of light directly affects the spacing of the bright fringes in an interference pattern. Shorter wavelengths lead to a narrower spacing between the bright fringes, while longer wavelengths result in wider spacings.

Therefore, when blue light is used instead of red light in a double-slit interference experiment, the bright fringes will be closer together. This phenomenon is a direct result of the difference in wavelength between the two types of light.

The double-slit interference experiment is a crucial demonstration of the wave-particle duality of light and matter. It showcases the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanical events and reveals the fascinating overlap between the behavior of waves and particles in the microscopic world.