Demonstration of the Airy disk using photography and simple light sources

Kenneth Trantham; Timothy J. Reece

doi:10.1119/1.4927525

Demonstration of the Airy disk using photography and simple light sources

Kenneth Trantham, Timothy J. Reece

Physics & Physical Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

A procedure for observing diffraction from a circular aperture using photography equipment and commonly available light sources is presented. Commonly called the Airy pattern, such a diffraction pattern is characterized by a central bright spot, with concentric bright and dark rings. The images obtained in this procedure are suitable for discussing and demonstrating Rayleigh's criterion in introductory physics classes. It is shown that the patterns observed change as expected with wavelength and aperture.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	928-934
Number of pages	7
Journal	American Journal of Physics
Volume	83
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1119/1.4927525
State	Published - Nov 1 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Physics and Astronomy

Access to Document

10.1119/1.4927525

Cite this

@article{336823dde41b43a2ab6e4e20bf9a5c2c,

title = "Demonstration of the Airy disk using photography and simple light sources",

abstract = "A procedure for observing diffraction from a circular aperture using photography equipment and commonly available light sources is presented. Commonly called the Airy pattern, such a diffraction pattern is characterized by a central bright spot, with concentric bright and dark rings. The images obtained in this procedure are suitable for discussing and demonstrating Rayleigh's criterion in introductory physics classes. It is shown that the patterns observed change as expected with wavelength and aperture.",

author = "Kenneth Trantham and Reece, {Timothy J.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 American Association of Physics Teachers.",

year = "2015",

month = nov,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1119/1.4927525",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "83",

pages = "928--934",

journal = "American Journal of Physics",

issn = "0002-9505",

publisher = "American Association of Physics Teachers",

number = "11",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Demonstration of the Airy disk using photography and simple light sources

AU - Trantham, Kenneth

AU - Reece, Timothy J.

PY - 2015/11/1

Y1 - 2015/11/1

N2 - A procedure for observing diffraction from a circular aperture using photography equipment and commonly available light sources is presented. Commonly called the Airy pattern, such a diffraction pattern is characterized by a central bright spot, with concentric bright and dark rings. The images obtained in this procedure are suitable for discussing and demonstrating Rayleigh's criterion in introductory physics classes. It is shown that the patterns observed change as expected with wavelength and aperture.

AB - A procedure for observing diffraction from a circular aperture using photography equipment and commonly available light sources is presented. Commonly called the Airy pattern, such a diffraction pattern is characterized by a central bright spot, with concentric bright and dark rings. The images obtained in this procedure are suitable for discussing and demonstrating Rayleigh's criterion in introductory physics classes. It is shown that the patterns observed change as expected with wavelength and aperture.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84945972807&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84945972807&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1119/1.4927525

DO - 10.1119/1.4927525

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84945972807

SN - 0002-9505

VL - 83

SP - 928

EP - 934

JO - American Journal of Physics

JF - American Journal of Physics

IS - 11

ER -

Demonstration of the Airy disk using photography and simple light sources

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this