Abstract
This chapter discusses an aspect of interference called diffraction, which can result when a wave strikes an obstacle. When a wave encounters an obstacle or a series of obstacles, portions of the wave are removed, and the remaining portions are scattered. These scattered portions of the wave are called secondary waves. Secondary waves can interfere with each other, and this interference is called diffraction. The diffraction pattern for light waves is a pattern of bright and dark areas corresponding to regions of constructive and destructive interference. The form of the diffraction pattern depends on the size and shape of the obstruction and on the wavelength of the light. The chapter discusses the diffraction of light by a single narrow slit and the diffraction of light by a system of many slits. It shows how a system of many slits, called a diffraction grating, can be used to measure wavelengths with great precision. The chapter further discusses the use of a very special type of diffraction pattern called a hologram to form three-dimensional images.
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