A Helium-Neon Laser and Diffraction Grating Experiment
What is the spacing between the slits of the grating illuminated by the Helium-Neon laser and how is it calculated?
The spacing between the slits of the grating illuminated by the Helium-Neon laser is 102 µm. This spacing can be calculated using the formula d = λy/L, where λ is the wavelength of the Helium-Neon laser, y is the distance between two bright fringes, and L is the distance from the screen to the grating.
Calculation of Spacing Between Slits
Given:
Wavelength of Helium-Neon laser, λ = 633 nm
Distance between two bright fringes, y = 32 cm
Distance from the screen to the grating, L = 2 m
We know that, Spacing of the grating, d = λy/L
Applying the values in the above formula:
Spacing of the grating, d = (633*10^-9 * 0.32) / 2
d = 1.02*10^-4 m
Therefore, the spacing between the slits of the grating illuminated by the Helium-Neon laser is 102 µm.
Sketch:
To visualize the experiment setup, refer to the accompanying sketch.