The Diffraction Grating:

The Diffraction Grating:

A repetitive array of diffracting elements, either slits or
obstacles, that has the effect of producing periodic
alterations in the phase, amplitude or both of an
emergent wave, is said to be a diffraction grating.

A grating is made by drawing a series of very fine,

equidistant and parallel lines on an optically plane glass
plate by means of a fine diamond pen (Figure -11). The
light cannot pass through the lines drawn by diamond;
while the spacing between the lines is transparent to the
light. Such surfaces act as transmission grating.
Figure 11: Diffraction grating with grating constant d.
There can be 15,000 lines per inch (6000 lines per cm)
or more in such a grating to produce a diffraction of
visible light.
If the lines are drawn on a silvered surface of the
mirror (plane or concave) then light is reflected from
the positions of mirrors in between any two lines and
it forms a plane or concave reflection grating.
Since the original gratings are quite expensive for
practical purposes their photographic reproductions
are generally used. The commercial gratings are
produced by taking the cast of an actual grating on a
transparent film such as cellulose acetate.
A thin layer of collodion solution (celluloid dissolved
in a volatile solvent) is poured on the surface of ruled
grating and allowed to dry. Thin collodion film is
stripped off from grating surface.

This film, which retains the impressions of the original

grating, is preserved by mounting the film between
two glass sheets. This serves as a plane diffraction
grating. A large number of replicas are prepared in this
way from a single original ruled surface. Now-a-days
holographic gratings are also produced. Holographic
gratings have a much large number of lines per cm
than a ruled grating.
The grating equation:
The relationship between the grating spacing and
the angle between the incident and diffracted
beams of light is known as the grating equation.
Let us consider an idealized grating which is made
up of N slits of spacing 𝑑 = 𝑎 + 𝑏 . The spacing
d must be wider than the wavelength λ. Here, slit
width is taken as ‘a’ and the width of the opaque
spacing as ‘b’.
The spacing 𝒂 + 𝒃 between adjacent slits is
called the diffraction element or grating constant.
Assuming a plane wave of monochromatic light
of wavelength λ with normal incidence
(perpendicular to the grating), each slit in the
grating acts as a quasi point-source from which
light propagates in all directions (although this
is typically limited to a hemisphere).

After light interacts with the grating, the

diffracted light is composed of the sum of
interfering wave components emerging from
each slit in the grating.
Fig-12a: Fraunhofer diffraction by a grating
By the theory of Fraunhofer single slit diffraction, the
secondary waves from all points in the slit diffracted in
a direction θ are equivalent to a single wave of
amplitude
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜷
𝐴1 = 𝑨𝒐 ,
𝜷

where 𝐴𝑜 is the amplitude of the direct ray from a

single slit and
𝝅 𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽
𝜷=
𝝀
is the phase difference between the wavelets from the
end to the middle point of the slit.
At any given point in space through which diffracted
light may pass, the path length to each slit in the grating
will vary. Since the path length varies, generally, so will
the phases of the waves at that point from each of the
slits, and thus will add or subtract from one another to
create peaks and valleys, through the phenomenon of
additive and destructive interference.
When the path difference between the light from adjacent
slits is equal to half the wavelength 𝝀/𝟐 the waves will
all be out of phase, and thus will cancel each other to
create points of minimum intensity.
Similarly, when the path difference is λ, the phases will
add together and maxima will occur.
If 𝜃𝑛 is the directions of principal maxima, 𝑑 is the
distance from the center of one slit to the center of the
adjacent slit and 𝒏 is an integer called the order of
diffraction, then the maxima occur at angles 𝜃𝑛 which
satisfy the relationship
𝒅 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒏 = 𝒏 𝝀,
𝒊. 𝒆. 𝒂 + 𝒃 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒏 = 𝒏 𝝀; 𝑛 = 0, 1, 2, 3 … … . (9)
This is known as the grating equation.

For oblique incidence equation-(9) modifies to

𝑎 + 𝑏 (sin 𝜃𝑛 + sin 𝑖) = 𝑛 𝝀; 𝑛 = 0, 1, 2, 3 … (9𝑎)
Where, 𝒊 is the angle of oblique incidence.
Fig-12b: Fraunhofer diffraction by a grating
Intensity of the resultant wave due to N slit Fraunhofer
diffraction.
Let us consider the secondary waves from N slits (Fig-12)
travelling in a direction inclined at an angle θ with the
direction of the incident light. The intensity of these
secondary waves come to focus at point P will depend on
the path difference ∆𝑙 between the secondary waves
originating from the two consecutive slits separated by a
distance 𝒅 = (𝒂 + 𝒃), which is given by
∆𝑙 = (𝑎 + 𝑏) sin 𝜃,
and the corresponding phase difference is
2𝜋 2𝜋
∆𝑙 = (𝑎 + 𝑏) sin 𝜃 = 2𝛾 (𝑠𝑎𝑦).
𝝀 𝝀
The phase difference 2𝛾 between successive waves is
constant and increases in arithmetic progression. Hence the
problem of determining the intensity along a given direction
θ reduces on finding the resultant amplitude of N waves in a
direction θ, each of amplitude 𝐴1 = 𝑨𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜷
𝜷
, having a

common phase difference 𝟐𝛄 = 𝟐𝝅

𝝀
(𝐚 + 𝐛) 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝛉.

If the displacements produced by waves 1, 2, 3 …N, at

point P are 𝑦1 , 𝑦2 , 𝑦3 …. 𝑦𝑁 and 𝐴1 is the amplitude of
each wave and 𝝋 = 𝟐𝜸, we can write
𝒚𝟏 = 𝑨𝟏 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛚𝐭
𝒚𝟐 = 𝑨𝟏 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝛚𝐭 − 𝝋)
𝒚𝟑 = 𝑨𝟏 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝛚𝐭 − 𝟐𝝋)
………………………..
𝒚𝑵 = 𝑨𝟏 𝐬𝐢𝐧[𝛚𝐭 − (𝑵 − 𝟏)𝝋].
So the resulting displacement y, due to superposition of all
waves in the direction θ is
𝒚 = 𝒚𝟏 + 𝒚𝟐 + 𝒚𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝒚𝑵
= 𝑨𝟏 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛚𝐭 + 𝑨𝟏 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝛚𝐭 − 𝝋)+. . … + 𝑨𝟏 𝐬𝐢𝐧[𝛚𝐭 − (𝑵 − 𝟏)𝝋].
On simplifying we get
𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝑵𝝋/𝟐) 𝑵−𝟏 𝝋
𝒚 = 𝑨𝟏 𝐬𝐢 𝐧 𝝎𝒕 −
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝋/𝟐 𝟐
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜷 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝑵𝜸
= 𝑨𝒐 𝐬𝐢𝐧[𝝎𝒕 − 𝑵 − 𝟏 𝜸]
𝜷 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜸

So the corresponding intensity distribution will be

2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝛽 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑁𝛾 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜷 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝑵𝜸
𝑰= 𝐴𝑜 = 𝑰𝒐 𝟐 … … … (10)
𝛽2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝛾 𝜷 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜸
𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐴2𝑜 = 𝐼𝑜 .
 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜷 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝑵𝜸
𝑰= 𝑰𝒐 𝟐 … … … (10)
𝜷 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜸
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝛽
𝐼 = 𝐼𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝛽2
2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝛽 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝛽
𝐼= 4𝐴𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛾 𝑑𝑜𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 2 2
2 𝐴𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛾
𝛽2 𝛽2

As can be seen the intensity distribution is a product of two

𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝛽
terms, the first term 𝛽2
represents the diffraction pattern
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑁𝛾
produced by a single slit and the second term 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝛾
represents
the interference pattern produced by N equally spaced point
sources.
For 𝑁 = 1, equation-(10) reduces to a single slit diffraction
pattern and for 𝑁 = 2, to a double slit diffraction pattern.
∵ sin2 2γ = 2 sin 𝛾 cos 𝛾 2 = 4 sin2 𝛾 cos 2 𝛾
Fig-12a: Fraunhofer diffraction by a grating
Principal Maxima:
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑁𝛾
The term 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝛾
represents the interference term for N slits. It
possesses maximum value equal to N2 for
𝛾 = 0, 𝜋, 2𝜋, 3𝜋, 4𝜋 … … 𝑛𝜋
Although the quotient becomes indeterminate at these values,
this result may be obtained by noting that
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑁𝛾 𝑁 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑁𝛾
𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 = ±𝑵
𝛾→𝑛𝜋 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛾 𝛾→𝑛𝜋 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛾
𝜋 𝑎+𝑏 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃
For 𝛾 = = 𝑛𝜋
𝜆
The equation for maxima becomes
𝑎 + 𝑏 sin 𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆; 𝑛 = 0, 1, 2, 3 … … 9 Principal Maxima
The intensities of the principal maxima are more intense than
double slit in the ratio of the square of the number of slits N.
Fig-13: Multiple slit intensity pattern
Minima:
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑁𝛾
To find the minima of the function 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝛾
, we note that the
numerator becomes zero more often than the denominator,
and this occurs at the values 𝑁𝛾 = 0, 𝜋, 2𝜋, 3𝜋, 4𝜋, … … 𝑝𝜋.
In the special cases
when 𝑝 = 0, 𝑁, 2𝑁, … . 𝑒𝑡𝑐
γ will be 0, 𝜋, 2𝜋, 3𝜋, 4𝜋 … 𝑒𝑡𝑐
For these values, the denominator will also vanish, and we
shall have the principal maxima described above.
The other values of p give zero intensity, since for these the
denominator does not vanish at the same time.
Hence the condition for minimum is
𝑝𝜋
𝛾= ; 𝑝 ≠ 𝑁, 2𝑁, 3𝑁 … … … .
𝑁
These values of γ correspond to path differences
𝜆 2𝜆 3𝜆 (𝑁−1)𝜆 (𝑁+1)𝜆
, , ,…, , …. that is
𝑁 𝑁 𝑁 𝑁 𝑁
𝟏
𝒂 + 𝒃 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒏 = 𝒏 + 𝝀; 𝒏 = 𝟎, 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑 … … . (𝟏𝟏)
𝑵
Minima
𝑁𝜆 2𝑁𝜆
Omitting the values 0, , , … … for which
𝑁 𝑁
𝑎 + 𝑏 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆 and which according to equation-(9)
represent principal maxima.
Between two adjacent principal maxima there will hence be
(𝑁 − 1) points of zero intensity. The two minima on either
side of a principal maximum are separated by twice the
distance of the others.
Dispersive power of a grating:

From the equation of maxima for diffraction grating

𝑎 + 𝑏 sin 𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛 𝜆; 𝑛 = 0,1,2,3 … . (9)
we notice that for a maximum intensity, as λ changes, angle θ
changes accordingly.

We can define a quantity called the ‘angular dispersion’ or

‘dispersive power’ which is the rate of change of diffraction angle
𝑑𝜃𝑛
with the change of wavelength . Differentiating we get
𝑑𝜆
𝑑 𝑑
𝑎 + 𝑏 sin 𝜃𝑛 = (𝑛 𝜆)
𝑑𝜆 𝑑𝜆
𝑑𝜃𝑛
or, 𝑎 + 𝑏 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑛 =𝑛
𝑑𝜆
𝒅𝜽𝒏 𝒏
or, = … … . . (𝟏𝟐)
𝒅𝝀 𝒂+𝒃 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽𝒏
This is the angular dispersion or dispersive power of a plane
diffraction grating. It can be seen that the dispersive power is
directly proportional to the order number 𝑛 and inversely
proportional to the grating element 𝑑 = 𝑎 + 𝑏 .

Resolving power of a grating:

If the position of the diffraction spectra is such that the 1st

maxima of a wave of wavelength λ falls on the position of the
1st minima of another wave of wavelength λ + ∆λ or λ − ∆λ,
then the two wavelengths will said to be just resolved. This is
Rayleigh’s criteria of resolution
Resolving power or the chromatic resolving power of a grating
is defined by the quantity 𝑅 = λ/∆λ, and is a pure number.
Fig-14: Angle versus intensity curve of two waves of wavelengths
λ1 and λ2. The waves are a) well resolved b) just resolved c)
not resolved
For maximum intensity due to wavelength (λ + ∆λ) in the
𝑛𝑡ℎ order we may write equation-(9) as
𝑎 + 𝑏 sin 𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛 𝝀 + ∆λ … … … … (9)
The minima due to wavelength λ and for the 𝑛𝑡ℎ order can
be written using equation-(11) as
𝟏
𝑎 + 𝑏 sin 𝜃𝑛 = 𝒏 + 𝝀 … … . (𝟏𝟏)
𝑵
Since both the maxima and minima are at the same angle
𝜃𝑛 , we can equate the right hand side of equations-(9) and
(11) to get
𝟏
𝒏 𝝀 + ∆λ = 𝒏 + 𝝀,
𝑵

or, 𝒏𝝀 + 𝒏∆λ = 𝒏𝝀 + λ/𝑁,

𝝀
or, = 𝒏𝑵 = 𝑹 … … … . (13)
∆𝝀
Resolving power is therefore equal to the product of the order
number 𝑛 and the total number of rulings on the grating 𝑁.
Since width of the emergent beam = 𝑁 𝑎 + 𝑏 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 … … … (14)
And the angular dispersion i.e. dispersive power is
𝑑𝜃𝑛 𝑛
= … . (12)
𝑑𝜆 𝑎+𝑏 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑛

Multiplying these two quantities in equations (14) and (12)we get,

𝒏
𝑵 𝒂 + 𝒃 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 × = 𝒏𝑵,
𝒂+𝒃 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽𝒏
which is the resolving power of the grating.
Therefore we can write
𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓
= 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 × 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔
Difference between interference and diffraction:

Interference Diffraction
Interference is the result of Diffraction is the result of superposition
superposition of waves starting of waves starting from different portions
from two different wave fronts. of the same wave front.

All fringes in an interference The fringes in a diffraction pattern are

pattern are of same width. never equal.
The points of minimum intensity In diffraction pattern the points of
are perfectly dark in interference minimum intensity are not perfectly dark.
pattern.
All bright fringes in an Intensity of bright fringes in a diffraction
interference pattern are of same pattern decreases as we move away from
intensity. the central bright fringe.
Problem 1: A parallel beam of monochromatic light is
allowed to be incident normally on a plane diffraction
grating having 4250 lines per cm and a second order
spectral line is observed to be deviated through 30°,
calculate the wavelength of spectral line.

𝑎 + 𝑏 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆
Fig-12a: Fraunhofer diffraction by a grating
Problem 1: A parallel beam of monochromatic light is allowed
to be incident normally on a plane diffraction grating having
4250 lines per cm and a second order spectral line is observed
to be deviated through 30°, calculate the wavelength of
spectral line.
Solution:
For a plane diffraction grating the angular positions 𝜃𝑛 of
principle maxima are given by the grating equation
𝑎 + 𝑏 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆
Here, 𝑛 is the order of principal maxima=2, 𝜆 is the wavelength
of incident light, 𝑎 is the slit width , 𝑏 is the width of the opaque
spacing and 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 𝑑 is the grating element, the distance
between two consecutive slits.
If N be the number of lines per cm of on the plane
diffraction grating then,
1 1 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠
𝑎+𝑏 = =
𝑁 4250 𝑐𝑚
Putting 𝑛 = 2; 𝜃 = 30° we get
𝑎 + 𝑏 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝜆=
𝑛
1 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛30°
=
4250 × 2
1 × 0.5
=
8500
= 5.882 × 10−5 𝑐𝑚
= 588 𝑛𝑚
Problem 2: Light of wavelength 5000 Å is incident normally in
a plane transmission grating. Find the difference in the angle
of deviation in the 1st and 3rd order spectra. The number of
lines per cm in the grating source is 6000.

(𝑎 + 𝑏)𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆

1 1 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠
𝑎+𝑏 = = .
𝑁 6000 𝑐𝑚
Problem 2: Light of wavelength 5000 Å is incident normally in
a plane transmission grating. Find the difference in the angle
of deviation in the 1st and 3rd order spectra. The number of
lines per cm in the grating source is 6000.
Solution:
For a plane diffraction grating the angular positions 𝜃𝑛 of
principle maxima are given by the grating equation
(𝑎 + 𝑏)𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆
Here, 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 𝑑 is the grating element, the distance between
two consecutive slits.
If N be the number of lines per cm of on the plane diffraction
grating then,
1 1 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠
𝑎+𝑏 = = .
𝑁 6000 𝑐𝑚
𝜆 the wavelength of incident light = 5000 Å = 5 × 10−5 𝑐𝑚
For 1st order 𝑛 = 1.
𝑛𝜆
∴ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃1 = = 6000 × 1 × 5 × 10−5 = 0.30
𝑎+𝑏
o𝑟, 𝜃1 = sin−1 0.30 = 17.5°
For 3rd order 𝑛 = 3
𝑛𝜆
∴ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃3 = = 6000 × 3 × 5 × 10−5 = 0.90
𝑎+𝑏
o𝑟, 𝜃3 = sin−1 0.90 = 64.16°
So, the difference in the angle of deviation in the 1st and 3rd
order spectra is
𝜽𝟑 − 𝜽𝟏 = 𝟔𝟒. 𝟏𝟔° − 𝟏𝟕. 𝟓° = 𝟒𝟔. 𝟔𝟔°
Problem 3: Monochromatic light from a helium-
neon laser (𝝀 = 𝟔𝟑𝟐. 𝟖 𝒏𝒎) is incident normally on
a diffraction grating containing 6000 lines/cm. Find
the angles at which one would observe the first,
second and third order maxima.

(𝑎 + 𝑏)𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆

1
𝑑 = 𝑎+𝑏 =
𝑁
𝑁 = 6000 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑚−1
Problem 3: Monochromatic light from a helium-neon laser
(𝝀 = 𝟔𝟑𝟐. 𝟖 𝒏𝒎) is incident normally on a diffraction grating
containing 6000 lines/cm. Find the angles at which one
would observe the first, second and third order maxima.
Solution:
For a plane diffraction grating the angular positions 𝜃𝑛 of
principle maxima are given by the grating equation
(𝑎 + 𝑏)𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆
Here, 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 𝑑 is the grating element, the distance between
two consecutive slits.
If N be the number of lines per cm of on the plane diffraction
grating then,
1 1 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠
𝑑 = 𝑎+𝑏 = = .
𝑁 6000 𝑐𝑚
𝜆 the wavelength of light = 632.8 𝑛𝑚 = 6.328 × 10−5 𝑐𝑚
For first order maximum (𝑛 = 1) we get
𝑛𝜆
sin 𝜃1 = = 1 × 𝜆 ×N
𝑑
= 6.328 × 10−5 𝑐𝑚 × 6000 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠. 𝑐𝑚−1 = 0.37968
∴ 𝜃1 = sin−1 0.3796 = 22.31°
Similarly, for second order maximum (𝑛 = 2) we get
sin 𝜃2 = 2 × 𝜆 × N = 2 × 0.37968 = 0.75936
∴ 𝜃2 = sin−1 0.75936 = 49.4°
However for 𝑛 = 3 we find that
sin 𝜃3 = 3 × 0.37968 = 1.139.
Since, the value of a sine function cannot exceed unity,
sin 𝜃3 = 1.139 does not represent a realistic solution.
Hence, only zeroth, first and second order maxima will be
observed in this situation.
Problem 4: How many orders will be visible if
the wavelength of light is 5000 Å and the
number of lines per inch on the grating is 2540?

𝑑𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆
Problem 4: How many orders will be visible if the
wavelength of light is 5000 Å and the number of lines per
inch on the grating is 2540?
Solution:
For a plane diffraction grating the angular positions 𝜃𝑛 of
principle maxima are given by the grating equation

𝑑𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆…….(1)

Here, 𝑑 is the grating element, the distance between two

consecutive slits. If N be the number of lines per cm of on
the plane diffraction grating then,
 1 1 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠
𝑑= =
𝑁 2540 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ
2.54 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠
= (1 inch=2.54 cm)
2540 𝑐𝑚

= 10−3 𝑐𝑚
𝜆 the wavelength of light = 5000Å = 5 × 10−5 𝑐𝑚
Since, maximum possible value of 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 1
From grating equation (1) we get

𝑑𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 10−3
∴𝑛= = = 20
𝜆 5 × 10 −5

So, twenty orders will be visible in the diffraction

spectrum.
Problem 5: Examine if two spectral lines of
wavelengths 5890 Å and 5896 Å can be clearly
resolved in the (a) first order and (b) second order by a
diffraction grating 2 cm wide having 425 lines/cm.

𝝀
Resolving power, 𝑹 = = 𝒏𝑵𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍
∆𝝀
𝝀
𝑵𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 = .
𝒏∆𝝀
Here 𝑁𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 is the total number of rulings/lines on the
grating
𝑁𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 425 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠. 𝑐𝑚−1 × 2 𝑐𝑚 = 850.
Problem 5: Examine if two spectral lines of
wavelengths 5890 Å and 5896 Å can be clearly
resolved in the (a) first order and (b) second order by a
diffraction grating 2 cm wide having 425 lines/cm.
Solution:
The equation for the required number of rulings on the
grating to just resolve the wavelengths 𝜆 and 𝜆 + ∆𝜆 can
𝝀
be written as 𝑵𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 = .
𝒏∆𝝀

Here 𝑁𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 is the total number of rulings/lines on the

grating and
𝑁𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 425 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠. 𝑐𝑚−1 × 2 𝑐𝑚 = 850.
(a) For first order spectrum to be resolved,
𝑛 = 1, 𝜆 = 5890 Å, 𝜆 + ∆𝜆 = 5896Å,
∴ ∆𝜆 = 5896Å − 5890Å = 6 Å.
Thus, total number of rulings required to be illuminated
in the first order

𝝀 5890 Å
𝑁1𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = = = 981.66 ≈ 982.
𝒏∆𝝀 1 × 6 Å
The number of rulings required to be illuminated for just
resolving the spectral lines in the first order is 982. But
there are only 850 lines on the grating. So, the spectral
lines will not be resolved in the first order spectrum.
(b) For second order spectrum to be resolved,
𝑛 = 2, ∆𝜆 = 6 Å.
Thus total number of rulings required to be illuminated in
the second order

𝝀 5890 Å
𝑁2𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = = = 490.8 ≈ 491.
𝒏∆𝝀 2 × 6 Å
The number of rulings required to be illuminated for just
resolving the spectral lines in the second order is 491.

Since, there are 850 lines on the grating, the spectral lines
will appear resolved in the second order spectrum.
Problem 6: Calculate the least width of a
plane diffraction grating, which will just
resolve the sodium lines of wavelengths
5890 Å and 5896 Å, in the second order,
having 500 lines/cm.
Problem 6: Calculate the least width of a plane diffraction
grating, which will just resolve the sodium lines of
wavelengths 5890 Å and 5896 Å, in the second order, having
500 lines/cm.
Solution:

The equation for the required number of rulings on the

grating to just resolve the wavelengths 𝜆 and 𝜆 + ∆𝜆 can be
written as
𝝀
𝑵𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 =
𝒏∆𝝀

Here 𝑛 = 2, 𝜆 = 5890 Å, 𝜆 + ∆𝜆 = 5896Å,

∴ ∆𝜆 = 5896Å − 5890Å = 6 Å.
The number of rulings required for just resolving the
spectral lines in the second order

𝝀 5890 Å
𝑁2𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = = = 490.8 ≈ 491
𝒏∆𝝀 2 × 6 Å
The grating has 500 lines in 1 cm.
∴ 𝑁 = 500 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑚−1 .
So, the least width of the plane diffraction grating needs
to be
𝑁2𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 491
=
𝑁 500
= 0.982 𝑐𝑚.