LASER DIFFRACTION
Aim: To determine the wavelength of given unknown lines by laser diffraction method
Working Principle
If a parallel beam of light of wavelength         is coming out from diffraction grating, placed
vertically on the optical bench, then the diffracted rays from the grating will form at the focal
plane, a number of primary maxima of different order numbers (n) on both sides of the central
maximum of zero order. If        be the angle of diffraction of nth order primary maximum then
              where      is the number of rulings per cm of the grating surface. Hence, the
wavelength of the incident light is,
where         the angle of diffraction of nth order maxima
              no. of rulings per cm of the grating surface
             order number of primary maxima
Apparatus Used:
Laser (He-Ne) source
Diffraction grating
Laser spectrometer
Experimental Results
Table 1: To measure diffraction angles for different orders
A. Readings for the vernier constants of both verniers of the spectrometer
     Value of 1 smallest main scale division (m.s.d)= ------------ .
     (n) vernier scale division = (m) main scale divisions
     B.
             V        Readings for the diffracted images with the telescope at
             e                 Left                            Right                Difference
             r    M.S.R         V.S.R    Total     M.S.R      V.S.R     Total       between
             n    in deg,min             in deg,   in                   in deg,     the left
Order        i                           min,      deg,min              min,        and the
                                                                                                    Mean
no. N        e                           sec                            sec         right
             r
                                                                                    readings,
             n
                                                                                    2
             o
             .
            1.
 1
             2
            1.
 2
             2
            1.
 3
             2
                                                    Value of M = ---------------------(lines/ mm)
     Table2: Estimation of wavelength
                                 Value of                                         Mean wavelength
          Order no. ( N )
                                                                       cm                   (nm)
                                 (from table 1B)
                 1.
           2.
           3.
Percentage of Error
P.E=
  =angle of diffraction from vernier1
       angle of diffraction from vernier2
Procedure:
   1. Level the spectrometer with spirit level.
   2. Determine the vernier constant of the spectrometer.
   3. Switch on the laser source. See the spot on the wall. Bring the detector on the optical
         path. You may have to look from the source side to see the spot on the detector. Adjust
         the horizontal position of the detector to obtain a maximum reading in the associated
         panel. .Note down the position of the direct beam. This helps you to connect the order of
         the diffraction spots.
   4. Set the grating on the prism table normal to the laser beam with careful eye estimation.
   5. Remove the detector from the optical path by rotating its arm and observe the spectrum
         on the wall of the room facing the source.
  6. Now bring back the detector on the path and place the detector at different positions of
     the spots. Measure the angle from both the vernier scales.
DISCUSSION: