34. Wave Optics

(II) Derive the law of reflection—namely, that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection from a flat surface—using Huygens’ principle for waves.

Show that the angular full width at half maximum of the central peak in a double-slit interference pattern is given by ∆θ = λ/2d if λ ≪ d.

Consider three equally spaced and equal-intensity coherent sources of light (such as adding a third slit to the two slits of Fig. 34–12). Use the phasor method to obtain the intensity as a function of the phase difference δ (Eq. 34–4).

(III) Consider three equally spaced and equal-intensity coherent sources of light (such as adding a third slit to the two slits of Fig. 34–12). Determine the positions of maxima and minima.

Consider three equally spaced and equal-intensity coherent sources of light (such as adding a third slit to the two slits of Fig. 34–12). Determine the positions of minima.

A series of polarizers are each rotated 10° from the previous polarizer. Unpolarized light is incident on this series of polarizers. How many polarizers does the light have to go through before it is 1/6 of its original intensity?

Two polarizers are oriented at 55° to each other and plane-polarized light is incident on them. If only 25% of the light gets through both of them, what was the initial polarization direction of the incident light?