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how do single slit maximas form and why do they decrease in intensity

For a single slit diffraction pattern, how do the maximas and why do the maximas decrease in intensity moving away from the centre, is it just because there is less incident photons further away?

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Nitrotoluene

Original post

by chodechod4

For a single slit diffraction pattern, how do the maximas and why do the maximas decrease in intensity moving away from the centre, is it just because there is less incident photons further away?

Now let's consider single slit diffraction. There is that bright spot in the middle, and less bright ones on either side.
Why do these spots occur?
Why do light waves through the slit cause them to line up at specific angles?
Now let's consider single-slit diffraction. There is that bright spot in the middle and less bright ones on either side.
Why do these spots occur?
Why do light waves through the slit cause them to line up at specific angles? As you move away from the centre, the bright edges start to fade.
Fewer photons is a start, but let's think about diffraction in more detail. When light goes through the slit, each spot in there sends out little waves (Huygens' principle).
These waves mess with each other. The centre of the bright area shows up because light waves from all parts of the slit travel the same distance to the screen, so they build each other up.
What if you go away from the centre?
Does that distance remain the same for waves from different points in the slit?
Does how much longer one wave travels than another decide if they line up when they get to the same spot?
Is diminishing light intensity connected with the efficiency of the wave superposition at those particular angles?
Here is my 2 cents!

(edited 12 months ago)

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