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Question #43245

Difficulty: 8/10 | 🟢 Free

The Question

In a modified Young's Double Slit Experiment, monochromatic light of wavelength λ\lambda illuminates two identical slits S1S_1 and S2S_2 separated by a distance dd. The screen is placed at a distance D≫dD \gg d. Slit S1S_1 is fixed, while slit S2S_2 is made to oscillate along the axis perpendicular to the plane of the slits with a displacement z(t)=Asin⁡(ωt)z(t) = A \sin(\omega t), where A≪λA \ll \lambda. The frequency of oscillation f=ω/2πf = \omega / 2\pi is much higher than the response rate of the detector on the screen, so the detector records the time-averaged intensity. If the intensity produced by a single slit on the screen is I0I_0, what is the fringe visibility V=Imax−IminImax+IminV = \frac{I_{\text{max}} - I_{\text{min}}}{I_{\text{max}} + I_{\text{min}}} of the observed interference pattern?

Options

  • A.

    1−π2A2λ21 - \frac{\pi^2 A^2}{\lambda^2}

  • B.

    00

  • C.

    1−2π2A2λ21 - \frac{2\pi^2 A^2}{\lambda^2}

  • D.

    11

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Correct Answer

Step-by-Step Solution

Explanation

How the Examiner Thinks

Intuition_Breaker

Train your brain to resist "obvious" answers that are designed to deceive your intuition.

Concepts Behind This Question

Young's Double Slit Geometry|Wave Equation Sign Convention|Kinematics

Why This Question Is Tricky

Common Mistakes

This question tests the transition from static wave geometry to dynamic phase modulation.

A common trap is incorrectly applying the Doppler shift to the vibrating slit, concluding that the frequencies are different (Δf≈Aω/λ\Delta f \approx A\omega/\lambda), making the sources incoherent and yielding a visibility of 0.

However, for typical SHM frequencies, the Doppler shift is negligible compared to the optical frequency, and the phenomenon is purely a phase modulation.

Another trap is assuming the high-frequency oscillation simply averages the displacement to zero, yielding a standard static pattern with visibility 1.

Students must correctly apply the time-averaged superposition principle and small-angle approximations to find the non-zero minimum intensity caused by the 'flickering' fringes.

Quick Facts About This Question

Question Information

SubjectPhysics
ChapterWave Optics - Class 12
ConceptYoung's Double Slit Geometry
Difficulty8
Cognitive Load7
Target Solve Time160 sec
AccessFree