single slit diffraction minima

Question

Condition for first minimum (m=1) in single slit diffraction (slit width a)?

RankGuru · Accepted Answer

1. **Diffraction Logic**: In a single slit of width $a$, the secondary wavelets from different parts of the slit interfere.
2. **Destructive Interference**: Dark fringes (minima) occur when the path difference between waves from the top and bottom of the slit is an integer multiple of $\lambda$.
3. **General Formula**: $a \sin 	heta = m \lambda$, where $m = 1, 2, 3, \dots$.
4. **Application**: For the **first minimum**, we set $m = 1$.
5. **Result**: The condition is **$a \sin 	heta = \lambda$**. Note that $m=1$ for diffraction minima corresponds to $m=1$ for interference maxima in YDSE (different physics processes).

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single slit diffraction minima

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