Dispersive Power of a Grating

The rate of change of the angle of diffraction with the

change in the wave length.

For a range of angle of diffraction θ to θ+dθ
corresponding to the wavelength range λ + d λ

dθ
= dispersive power of grating
dλ
(a + b ) sin θ = nλ
( a + b ) → grating element
Differentiating w.r.t. λ gives
dθ
(a + b ) cos θ = n
dλ
 dθ
Dispersive power =
dλ
dθ n nN ′
= =
dλ (a + b ) cos θ cos θ
1
N ′ = number of lines per cm =
a+ b

Angular dispersive power is

directly proportional to order of spectra (n). Hence dθ,
the angular separation between principal maxima for
wavelength λ and λ + d λ increases with order. The
second order spectrum is twice as wide as that of first.

For a given d λ , the angular separation dθ is
inversely proportional to grating element. Smaller the
grating element greater the spread of spectrum of a
given order.

When θ increases, the angular separation increases.
i.e. grating spectra are spread much more at the red end
than at violet end of the spectrum.

For small values of angle of diffraction ‘θ’, cosθ
cosθ is
constant and can be taken as unity.
Then the influence of the factor cosθ
cosθ can be neglected.

The angular dispersion (θ to θ+d θ) of any two spectral

lines (λ to λ+d λ) for a given order
dθ α dλ (Normal spectrum)
For the two spectral lines of wave lengths λ and λ+d λ, if the
linear spacing is dx,
dx, in the focal plane of Telescope objective
(screen).
dx
dθ =
f
dx = f dθ
Linear dispersion
dx dθ fnN ′
= f =
dλ dλ cos θ
fnN ′
dx = . dλ
cos θ
Rayleigh’s Criterion

Beams from a point source when pass through the objective
of a telescope, which acts as a circular aperture gives a
diffraction pattern.

Bright disc surrounded by alternate dark and bright rings
(Airy’s disc).

For two closely lying point objects, two different diffraction
patterns are produced

These patterns overlap on each other.
Rayleigh-resolving power of the objective lens-
Two images of the point objects lying close to each other
may be regarded as separated if the central maximum of
one falls on the first minimum of the other.

The central bright image of one falls on the first minimum of the
other - the two images are just resolved.

The distance between the centers of the patterns shall be equal
to the radius of the central disc.
This is the Rayleigh criterion for resolution or Rayleigh’s limit for
resolution.
Rayleigh-resolving power of the objective lens (contd.)-
Two separate images→ lines well Two images overlap→
resolved →lines not resolvable

Two images just resolved

 Resolving Power of a Diffraction Grating-
Grating-
ratio of the
wavelength λ and the least difference dλ in wavelength between
the two lines in the spectrum such that they can just be resolved
from each other.

λ and λ + dλ- wave lengths of the two lines to be resolved from

each other using diffraction grating.
 λ
Resolving power R =
dλ
Expression for Resolving Power

XY is the grating surface and MN is the field of view of the telescope

P1 is the nth primary maximum of spectral line of wave length λ at

an angle of diffraction θn.

P2 is the nth primary maximum of a second spectral line of

wavelength λ + d λ at a diffracting angle of θn + d θ

P1 and P2 are the spectral lines in nth order.

The two spectral lines according to Rayleigh’s criterion will appear

just resolved if the position P2 also corresponds to the first
minimum of P1.
Using Rayleigh criterion-
Two closely lying objects distinguished form each if
the principal maximum of one coincides with the first minimum of
the other.

For the nth order of principal maximum of wavelength λ,

(a + b) sinθn = n λ
(a + b) – Grating element
θn – Angle of diffraction

The direction of the nth primary maximum for wave length λ + d λ is
(a+b) sin(θn +dθ) = n(λ + d λ) (1)

These two lines will just appear resolved if the angle of diffraction
θn + dθ also corresponds to the direction of the first secondary
minimum after nth primary maximum at P1. (corresponding to λ)
λ

This is possible if the extra path difference introduced is where
‘N’ is the total number of lines on the grating surface. N

The first minimum after the nth principal maximum occurs at an
angle θn + dθ (1st order secondary minimum)

The change in the path difference in going form one slit to the
other is λ
N

If the change in path difference between the waves from the upper
most slit to that from the lower most slit is λ
λ
(a + b)sin (θn + dθ )= nλ + ( 2)
N
From (1) and (2).
λ
n( λ + d λ ) = n λ +
N
λ
n dλ =
N
λ
= nN
dλ
 λ
= R = nN
dλ

R is the resolving power of a grating
Resolving power is large if number of lines on the grating ‘N’ is

Resolving
large or if the order of diffraction ‘n’ is higher.
higher.

Resolving power of Telescope

Degree by which the two distant objects closely lying to each other
are resolved using angular separation and not the linear separation.

Limit of resolution of a telescope (θ

Limit (θ ) -
Minimum angle subtended by two
distant objects so that their images produced by the objective
of the telescope are just seen as separate from each other.
other.
1
Resolving power (R) is Reciprocal of the limit of resolution R = θ
Resolving power of Telescope (contd.)

Let ‘a’ be the diameter of the objective of the telescope

Consider the rays of light from two neighboring points of a

distant object → The image of each point is a diffraction pattern

Let P1 & P2 be the positions of the central maxima of two

images.

According to Rayleigh, the two images are said to be resolved if the
position of the central maximum of the second image coincides
with the first minimum of the first image.(or vice-versa)

For, the secondary waves traveling in the direction AP1 and BP1 the
path difference, ∆ = zero

reinforce with each other at

P1 leading to a maximum

Similarly, all the secondary waves from the corresponding points

between A and B will have path difference ∆ = zero

P1 correspond to the position of the

central maximum of the first image.

The secondary waves traveling in the directions AP2 and BP2

will meet at point P2 on the screen.

Let the angle P2AP1 be dθ.


The path difference between the secondary waves traveling in
the directions BP2 and AP2 , ∆ = BC

From the ∆ ABC
BC = AB sin dθ = AB dθ = a. dθ

P2 corresponds to the first minimum of the first image if
a. dθ = λ (n = 1)

But, P2 is also the position of the central maximum of the
second image

Therefore, the Rayleigh condition for resolution is satisfied if
a. dθ = λ
λ
dθ =
a

The whole aperture AB can be assumed to be made up of two
halves AO and OB.

The path difference between the secondary waves from the
λ
corresponding points in the two halves will be
2

All the secondary waves interfere with each other destructively
→P2 will be the first minimum of the first image
λ

The equation dθ = holds good for rectangular apertures also.
a

But for circular apertures, according to Airy
1.22 λ
dθ =
a
where λ is the wavelength of light and a is the aperture of the
telescope.

dθ refers to the limit of resolution of the telescope

The reciprocal of dθ measures the resolving power of the

telescope 1 a
=
dθ 1.22 λ

dθ is also the angle subtended by the two distant objects at the
objective of the telescope.

The resolving power of a telescope can be defined as the reciprocal

of the angular separation ‘dθ’ of the two distant object points , so
that their images appear to be just resolved according to Rayleigh's
criterion

A telescope with a large diameter of the objective has higher

resolving power.

If f is the focal length of the telescope objective, then

r 1.22 λ
dθ = =
f a
1.22 f λ
r=
a

where r is the radius of the central bright image.

The diameter of the 1st dark ring = the diameter of the central
image.

The central bright disc is the Airy’s disc.

Therefore, if focal length of the objective ‘f’ is small and the

wavelength ‘λ’ is small, and ‘a’ the aperture is large
the radius of the central
bright disc is small
diffraction pattern
appears sharper

angular separation between the just

resolvable point objects will be smaller

resolving power of the telescope will be higher