What can one learn from diffraction patterns?

Principle

The experiment can be carried out in daylight because the diffraction pattern from a red LED can clearly be seen. However, the arrangement should not face into the light. It must be ensured that as far as possible only one Koppelmann pattern is always viewed with the eye.

Benefits

• Specified for the requirements of the german final secondary-school examinations
• Especially for secondary schools
• Quantum and wave optics in a student experiment

Tasks

What can be learned from diffraction patterns? You are already familiar with the interference at a grating. This knowledge can be used to investigate and analyse structures of microscopic dimensions. In this experiment you will learn to draw conclusions about structures from their interference patterns.