Experiment 6 Polarization and Interference 实验 6 偏振和干涉

1 Purpose 1 目的

The purpose of this experiment is to investigate two basic concepts of wave mechanics: polarization and interference. You will conduct the experiment with light, but the general concepts apply to many other types of waves. 本实验的目的是研究波动力学的两个基本概念:偏振和干涉。您将使用光进行实验,但这些一般概念适用于许多其他类型的波。

2 Introduction 2 介绍

2.1 Polarization 2.1 偏振

Within the enormous range of wave phenomena observed in nature, we can identify two basic types of waves: 在自然中观察到的庞大波动现象范围内,我们可以识别两种基本类型的波:

  1. Longitudinal: waves whose vibrations are parallel to the direction of wave propagation. When a longitudinal wave moves through a medium, one observes density variations - regions of compression and rarefaction - in the material. Sound is an example of a longitudinal wave.
  2. 纵波:振动方向与波传播方向平行的波。当纵波通过介质时,人们会观察到材料中的密度变化 - 压缩和稀疏的区域。声音是纵波的一个例子。
  3. Transverse: waves whose vibrations (or displacements) are perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Light is an example of a transverse wave.
  4. 横波:振动(或位移)垂直于传播方向的波。光是横波的一个例子。

Polarization occurs only in transverse waves. It refers to the axis of the waves' oscillation, which is always perpendicular to the wave direction. For a wave traveling in three spatial dimensions, the direction of polarization can occur anywhere within the plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation. If a wave oscillates along only one axis within this plane, it is said to be polarized. 偏振只发生在横波中。它指的是波的振动轴,该轴始终垂直于波的方向。对于在三个空间维度中传播的波,偏振的方向可以发生在垂直于传播方向的平面内的任何位置。如果波仅沿着这个平面内的一个轴振动,则称其为偏振的。

Light is electromagnetic radiation; it consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the wave. When we speak of the polarization state of light, we refer specifically to the vibration axis of the electric field. 光是电磁辐射;它由垂直于波的方向振动的电场和磁场组成。当我们谈论光的偏振状态时,我们特指电场的振动轴。

Typically, light produced by an incandescent bulb or a candle is unpolarized; that is, the electric field associated with the emitted light oscillates in random directions within the plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation. However, unpolarized light can become polarized under several circumstances. One of these occurs when we pass unpolarized light through a polarizing filter, as shown in Fig. 6.1. For visible light, such filters are typically made of polymer films, plastics whose molecules form long chains oriented along one axis. 通常,由白炽灯泡或蜡烛产生的光是非偏振的;即与发射光相关的电场在垂直于传播方向的平面内沿随机方向振动。然而,非偏振光可以在几种情况下变成偏振光。其中一种情况是当我们将非偏振光通过偏振滤光片时,如图6.1所示。对于可见光,这类滤光片通常由聚合物薄膜制成,这些塑料的分子沿一个轴形成长链。

When an unpolarized light wave encounters the filter, the component of the electric field oscillating parallel to the molecular chains is absorbed in the material. The component of the field perpendicular to the molecules' long axes is transmitted. Therefore, the direction perpendicular to the molecular chains is called the transmission axis. 当非偏振光波遇到滤光片时,平行于分子链振动的电场的分量被材料吸收。垂直于分子长轴的场的分量被传输。因此,垂直于分子链的方向被称为透射轴。

Figure 6.1: Creation and detection of polarized light. 图6.1:偏振光的产生和检测。

Suppose a wave has been polarized by a filter such that its polarization is characterized by an electric field E⃗0\vec{E}_{0}. We can analyze the polarization state by passing the light through a second filter (called an analyzer) whose transmission axis is oriented at an angle θ\theta with respect to the first filter. The effect of the analyzer is to pick off the component of E⃗0\vec{E}_{0} parallel to its transmission axis, E0cos⁡θE_{0} \cos \theta. The remaining light is absorbed. In this experiment, we use a laser, which is a polarized light source, and shine the light through a polarizer (the analyzer), recreating the physics of two successive polarizers. 假设一个波已经被滤光片偏振,使其偏振由电场 E⃗0\vec{E}_{0} 表征。我们可以通过将光通过第二个滤光片(称为分析器)来分析偏振状态,该分析器的透射轴相对于第一个滤光片以角度 θ\theta 定向。分析器的效果是选取平行于其透射轴的 E⃗0\vec{E}_{0} 的分量,即 E0cos⁡θE_{0} \cos \theta。剩余的光被吸收。在本实验中,我们使用激光器,它是一种偏振光源,并将光通过偏振器(分析器),重现两个连续偏振器的物理过程。

Since the intensity of the light wave is proportional to ∣E⃗∣2|\vec{E}|^{2}, the intensity of light after it has passed through the analyzer is 由于光波的强度与 ∣E⃗∣2|\vec{E}|^{2} 成正比,光通过分析器后的强度为

I=I0cos⁡2θ,\begin{equation*} I=I_{0} \cos ^{2} \theta, \tag{6.1} \end{equation*}

where I0=∣E⃗0∣2I_{0}=\left|\vec{E}_{0}\right|^{2}. This shift in the intensity, known as Malus' Law, can be detected by a human eye or a photometer. 其中 I0=∣E⃗0∣2I_{0}=\left|\vec{E}_{0}\right|^{2}。这种强度的变化,被称为马吕斯定律,可以通过人眼或光度计检测到。

2.2 Interference: Young's Double Slit 2.2 干涉:杨氏双缝

Another key property of waves is their ability to superimpose. That is, when two waves encounter each other in a medium, the resulting wave is simply the algebraic sum of the two individual waves. The combination of two or more waves into a third is called interference. Interference can occur constructively or destructively: 波的另一个关键特性是它们的叠加能力。也就是说,当两个波在介质中相遇时,产生的波仅仅是两个单独波的代数和。两个或更多波合成第三个波的组合被称为干涉。干涉可以是建设性的或破坏性的:

  1. Constructive Interference: the displacements of the two waves occur in the same direction, so the sum is an even larger wave (see Fig. 6.2, left).
  2. 建设性干涉:两个波的位移发生在相同的方向上,因此和是一个更大的波(见图6.2,左)。
  3. Destructive Interference: the displacements of the two waves occur in the opposite direction, so the sum is smaller than either component (see Fig. 6.2, right).
  4. 破坏性干涉:两个波的位移发生在相反的方向上,因此和小于任一分量(见图6.2,右)。

Interference can be totally constructive, totally destructive, or some combination of both. The amount depends on the relative phases of the component waves - that is, the relative location of each wave in its oscillatory cycle. 干涉可以是完全建设性的,完全破坏性的,或两者的某种组合。程度取决于分量波的相对相位 - 即每个波在其振荡周期中的相对位置。

Figure 6.2: Totally constructive and totally destructive interference of two waves. 图6.2:两个波的完全建设性和完全破坏性干涉。

When visible light constructively interferes, the result is an increase in the intensity of the light. When it destructively interferes, the intensity decreases. The first clear demonstration that this actually occurs was carried out in 1801 by Thomas Young. After passing a collimated light beam through two narrow slits, Young observed the wavelike interference of the beam, which formed a pattern of bright and dark spots. 当可见光发生建设性干涉时,结果是光的强度增加。当它发生破坏性干涉时,强度减小。这种现象实际发生的第一个清晰演示是由托马斯·杨在1801年进行的。在将准直光束通过两个窄缝后,杨观察到了光束的波状干涉,形成了明暗斑点的图案。

Young's double slit experiment, illustrated in Fig. 6.3, permits what remains of an incoming wave (from the left) to travel to a distant screen (on the right) along two different paths l1l_{1} and l2l_{2}. The light waves from the two slits interfere, resulting in an interference pattern of bright (constructive) and dim (destructive) patches as viewed on the screen. 杨氏双缝实验,如图6.3所示,允许入射波(从左侧)的剩余部分沿着两条不同的路径 l1l_{1} 和 l2l_{2} 传播到远处的屏幕(在右侧)。来自两个缝的光波相互干涉,在屏幕上形成明亮(建设性)和暗淡(破坏性)斑块的干涉图案。

Using the geometry of Fig. 6.3 and Fig. 6.4, we can quantitatively predict where bright and dark patches will appear on the screen. The two slits are separated by a distance dd, and located a distance DD from the screen. We shine monochromatic (single-wavelength) light of wavelength λ\lambda from the left onto the double slit, which allows two light waves to propagate from the two slits. Straight ahead, they will always be in phase because they travel the same distance to the screen. But when the two waves propagate at an angle θ\theta, they cover different distances to reach a specific point on the screen 1{ }^{1}. 使用图6.3和图6.4的几何关系,我们可以定量预测明亮和黑暗的斑点将在屏幕上出现的位置。两个缝隙之间相隔距离dd,并位于距屏幕的距离DD处。我们从左侧向双缝照射单色(单一波长)光,波长为λ\lambda,这使得两束光波从两个缝隙传播出去。在正前方,它们总是处于相同的相位,因为它们到达屏幕的距离相同。但当两个波以角度θ\theta传播时,它们到达屏幕上特定点的距离不同1{ }^{1}。

Figure 6.3: Interference of light emanating from two small slits. Note that the horizontal distance DD has been shortened and distorted in this drawing. 图6.3:从两个小缝隙发出的光的干涉。注意,在这个图示中,水平距离DD已被缩短和扭曲。

From Fig. 6.4, it is clear that the difference in path length Δl\Delta l between the two slits is 从图6.4可以清楚地看出,两个缝隙之间的路径长度差Δl\Delta l为

Δl=dsin⁡θ\Delta l=d \sin \theta

It is this Δl\Delta l that determines the location of intensity maxima and minima in the interference pattern on the screen. For an intensity minimum to occur, we must have destructive interference between the two waves. This happens when the length difference between the waves' paths is a half-integer multiple of the wavelength of the light: 正是这个Δl\Delta l决定了屏幕上干涉图案中强度极大值和极小值的位置。要出现强度极小值,我们必须在两个波之间有破坏性干涉。这发生在波的路径之间的长度差是光的波长的半整数倍时:

Δl=(m+12)λ,m=0,±1,±2…\Delta l=\left(m+\frac{1}{2}\right) \lambda, \quad m=0, \pm 1, \pm 2 \ldots

When Δl\Delta l takes on these values, the relative phase between the two waves will be 180∘180^{\circ} (consult Fig. 6.2 to convince yourself). For an intensity maximum, the relative phase must be 0∘0^{\circ}, and this occurs when Δl\Delta l is an integer multiple of the wavelength: 当Δl\Delta l取这些值时,两个波之间的相对相位将是180∘180^{\circ}(参考图6.2以确信这一点)。对于强度极大值,相对相位必须是0∘0^{\circ},这发生在Δl\Delta l是波长的整数倍时:

Δl=mλ,m=0,±1,±2…\Delta l=m \lambda, \quad m=0, \pm 1, \pm 2 \ldots

[^0]

Figure 6.4: Geometry of the double slit, assuming that the emitted rays are effectively parallel. 图6.4:双缝的几何结构,假设发射的光线基本上是平行的。

Therefore, there exists a set of angles θm\theta_{m} where the intensity maxima will occur, satisfying 因此,存在一组角度θm\theta_{m},在这些角度处会出现强度极大值,满足

dsin⁡θm=mλd \sin \theta_{m}=m \lambda

For small θm\theta_{m} (in radians), we can use the approximation sin⁡θ≈tan⁡θ\sin \theta \approx \tan \theta. If xx is the distance on the screen from the central maximum, then the position of the mth m^{\text {th }} maximum is given by 对于小的θm\theta_{m}(以弧度计),我们可以使用近似sin⁡θ≈tan⁡θ\sin \theta \approx \tan \theta。如果xx是从中心极大值到屏幕上的距离,那么第mth m^{\text {th }}个极大值的位置由下式给出

sin⁡θm≈tan⁡θm≈xmD\sin \theta_{m} \approx \tan \theta_{m} \approx \frac{x_{m}}{D}

Combining all of our results, we find that the position of the mth m^{\text {th }} maximum is a linear function of mm : 综合我们所有的结果,我们发现第mth m^{\text {th }}个极大值的位置是mm的线性函数:

xm=(λDd)m\begin{equation*} x_{m}=\left(\frac{\lambda D}{d}\right) m \tag{6.2} \end{equation*}

2.3 The Interference Pattern 2.3 干涉图案

The cartoon in Fig. 6.3 suggests that the intensity pattern produced by the double slit should look roughly like a sine wave, with distance between the peaks depending on the slit separation dd and the screen distance DD. While this is true, it is not the entire story. 图6.3中的示意图表明,双缝产生的强度图案应该大致看起来像一个正弦波,峰值之间的距离取决于缝隙间距dd和屏幕距离DD。虽然这是正确的,但这并不是全部内容。

In fact, the true intensity pattern should appear as depicted in Fig. 6.5. The double slit diffraction pattern (solid line) is periodic, but it also contains some larger features. This results from the fact that a combination of interference effects are present in the double slit experiment: first, there is interference of the two slits, as we have already discussed, and, secondly, there is a diffraction effect that occurs from each individual slit. The larger pattern in the figure is the intensity profile you would observe if you just passed the light through one slit. The intensity of the single slit pattern is given by 事实上,真正的强度图案应该如图6.5所示。双缝衍射图案(实线)是周期性的,但它还包含一些更大的特征。这是由于在双缝实验中存在干涉效应的组合:首先,正如我们已经讨论过的,有两个缝隙的干涉,其次,每个单独的缝隙都会产生衍射效应。图中较大的图案是如果你只让光通过一个缝隙时会观察到的强度分布。单缝图案的强度由下式给出

I=I0(sin⁡(πasin⁡θ/λ)πasin⁡θ/λ)2I=I_{0}\left(\frac{\sin (\pi a \sin \theta / \lambda)}{\pi a \sin \theta / \lambda}\right)^{2}

Figure 6.5: Intensity pattern of the double slit: a double slit pattern modulated by a single slit envelope. 图6.5:双缝的强度图案:由单缝包络调制的双缝图案。

where aa is the width of the slit. From this result, you can show that the single slit minima occur when 其中aa是缝隙的宽度。从这个结果,你可以证明单缝极小值出现在

πasin⁡θλ=nπ,n=±1,±2,…sin⁡θn=nλa\begin{aligned} \frac{\pi a \sin \theta}{\lambda} & =n \pi, \quad n= \pm 1, \pm 2, \ldots \\ \sin \theta_{n} & =n \frac{\lambda}{a} \end{aligned}

Using the small angle approximation we applied earlier, we can express this result in terms of the positions xnx_{n} of the single slit minima on the viewing screen: 使用我们之前应用的小角度近似,我们可以用观察屏幕上单缝极小值的位置xnx_{n}来表达这个结果:

xn=(λDa)n\begin{equation*} x_{n}=\left(\frac{\lambda D}{a}\right) n \tag{6.3} \end{equation*}

3 Experiment 3 实验

To conduct the experiment, you will use the components shown in Fig. 6.6. The primary pieces of equipment that you will need to use are: 要进行实验,您将使用图6.6中显示的组件。您需要使用的主要设备****部件是:

Light Sensor with Rotary Motion Sensor (RMS): Light sensor is a light-sensitive device that measures the total power of light incident on it, and RMS measures and reports the current transverse position. It is mounted on a linear translator, along which it can move on the direction transverse to the optical bench. 带有旋转运动传感器(RMS)的光传感器:光传感器是一种对光敏感的设备,用于测量入射在其上的光的总功率,而RMS测量并报告当前的横向位置。它安装在线性平移台上,可以沿着与光学平台横向的方向移动。

Double/Single Slit Disk: Holds various kinds of slits that will be used in this experiment. Slits can be switched by rotating the disk. 双/单缝盘:容纳将在本实验中使用的各种类型的缝隙。通过旋转圆盘可以切换缝隙。

Polarizer (with RMS): Polarizes unpolarized light or act as analyzer. The angle it rotates through can be measured and reported with a RMS. 偏振器(带RMS):将非偏振光偏振或作为分析器。它旋转的角度可以通过RMS测量和报告。

Figure 6.6: Equipment components used in the experiment. 图6.6:实验中使用的设备组件。

During the first part of the experiment, you will use the polarizer with RMS to test Malus' Law, with the laser being the light source. In the second part of the experiment, you will remove the polarizer from the bench, install the slits and observe double and single-slit diffraction of laser light. The laser is extremely useful because it emits intense light of a single wavelength, and because this light is coherent (all light waves are in phase). 在实验的第一部分,您将使用带有RMS的偏振器来测试马吕斯定律,以激光器作为光源。在实验的第二部分,您将从平台上移除偏振器,安装缝隙并观察激光光的双缝和单缝衍射。激光器非常有用,因为它发射单一波长的强烈光,并且这种光是相干的(所有光波都处于相同的相位)。

It is very important that lasers, polarizers and disks should stand upright at all times. Laying them on their sides exposes them to damage from dust and to getting scratched/damaged by another object placed on top of it. 非常重要的是,激光器、偏振器和圆盘应始终保持直立。将它们放在侧面会使它们暴露在灰尘造成的损坏中,并可能被放在其上的其他物体刮伤/损坏。

3.1 Safety Note 安全注意事项

[]: �{ }^{1}我们假设两条∗∗光线∗∗是平行的 我们假设两条**光线**是平行的\left(\theta_{1} \approx \theta_{2}\right),这是一个很好的∗∗近似∗∗,因为到∗∗屏幕∗∗的∗∗距离∗∗,这是一个很好的**近似**,因为到**屏幕**的**距离**D与两个∗∗缝隙∗∗之间的∗∗距离∗∗与两个**缝隙**之间的**距离**d$相比实际上是无限大的。

Although the laser is of relatively low intensity, it can be dangerous in certain circumstances unless used carefully. In particular, do not use the laser in such a way that it can shine into any person's eye. (The warning label on the laser states "Do NOT stare into beam!"). When you are not using the laser, remember to turn it off. 尽管激光器的强度相对较低,但在某些情况下如果不小心使用可能会很危险。特别是,不要以可能照射到任何人眼睛的方式使用激光器。(激光器上的警告标签写着"不要盯着光束看!")。当您不使用激光器时,记得将其关闭。

4 Procedure 4 程序

4.1 Polarization 4.1 偏振

4.2 Double Slit Diffraction Pattern 4.2 双缝衍射图案

4.3 Single Slit Envelope 4.3 单缝包络

Figure 6.7: Single slit pattern on the white screen. 图6.7:白色屏幕上的单缝图案。

5 Analysis 5 分析

Polarization 偏振

To test Malus' Law, plot I/I0I / I_{0} against cos⁡2θ\cos ^{2} \theta, where θ\theta is the angle difference between the polarizer's angular position and θ0\theta_{0}. Does this look like a straight line, as you would expect from Malus' Law? Perform a regression analysis and record the slope and intercept of the line, with their uncertainties. You can also choose to use some non-linear fitting tools to fit your original data with the cos⁡2\cos ^{2} function, and check the quality of the fit. In addition, consider the following questions: 为了测试马吕斯定律,绘制I/I0I / I_{0}对cos⁡2θ\cos ^{2} \theta的图,其中θ\theta是偏振器角位置与θ0\theta_{0}之间的角度差。这看起来像一条直线吗,正如您从马吕斯定律中所期望的那样?执行回归分析并记录线的斜率和截距,以及它们的不确定性。您也可以选择使用一些非线性拟合工具用cos⁡2\cos ^{2}函数拟合您的原始数据,并检查拟合的质量。此外,考虑以下问题:

Summary of data: 数据摘要:

Double Slit Diffraction Pattern 双缝衍射图案

Single Slit Envelope 单缝包络

[^0]: 1{ }^{1} We assume that the two rays are parallel (θ1≈θ2)\left(\theta_{1} \approx \theta_{2}\right), a good approximation since the distance to the screen DD is effectively infinite compared to the distance dd between the two slits.