Lab Experiments

Experiment-167

323

DIFFRACTION HALOS
Dr. D Sudhakar Rao and Ms Chaithra G M
Dept of Physics, St Aloysius College, Light House Hill, Mangalore-575 003. Karnataka, INDIA.

Email:sr23us@Yahoo.com
Abstract
Diffraction halos are observed when lycopodium power sprayed on a glass plate is
illuminated with sodium vapour lamp. The diameter of the halos is determined
and particle size is calculated.

Introduction
Diffraction halo is an optical phenomenon in which light gets diffracted from the edges of a
spherical particle. Similar to rainbow diffraction haloes are also visible in sky as a circular
ring around the Sun or the Moon. Figure-1(a) shows the diffraction halos seen around the sun
formed by the particles in the atmosphere and sun light. Figure-1(b) shows the Airys disc
formed by diffraction of light through a tiny circular hole. In the case of halos, diffraction
takes place from the edges of the tiny particle. The tiny parcel becomes opaque to the light
and its circumferential edges become transparent to light. In the case of Airys disc diffraction
takes place when light gets diffracted from the circumferential edges of the circular hole. The
tiny hole becomes transparent to light and rest of the object becomes opaque to light. Figure2 depicts these two phenomena.

Figure-1: (a) Diffraction halos round the Sun (b) Airys disc
Picture courtesy:www.pbase.com/dominiccantin/images/432772317

Fraunhofer diffraction pattern due to a single circular aperture is characterized by a very

bright central disc called the Airys disc centered on the geometrical image of the source and
surrounded by concentric dark and bright circular rings of rapidly decreasing intensity [1].
The diffraction pattern of a number of irregularly distributed identical circular apertures can

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be shown to be the same source as that of a single aperture except for the fact that in this case
the intensity of the rings surrounded by Airys disc is greatly increased. From Babinets
principle it follows that the circular aperture may be equivalently replaced by a large number
of irregularly distributed identical circular, opaque objects without altering the diffraction
pattern [2, 3,4,5]. By measuring the diameter of the rings formed in both the cases, the
dimension of the particle diffracting the light in the case of halos or the size of the hole
through light is getting diffracted can be estimated.
Monochromatic
light
Rest of the object becomes
obstacles to light
Object becomes
obstacles to light
Light diffracting
through the hole
Diffracted light
form Airys disc

Diffracted light form

halos

Figure-2: Diffraction of light forming Airys disc (left) and halos (right)
The above distribution is achieved in practice by dusting a glass plate with Lycopodium
powder, the particles of which are not only spherical but are of remarkably constant size.
When illuminated by monochromic light, the diffraction halos are observed. Calculation by
Sir George Airy show that if the first dark ring is seen in the direction 1, then
1 =

1.22
d

Where

is the wavelength of light

d is the diameter of the particles.

For the second and third rings when seen in the directions 2 and 3 respectively, we have
2.27
d
3.23
3 =
d
2=

2
3

If the first, second and third bright rings are seen in the directions 1, 2 and 3 respectively,
then

1.635
2.68
3.7
, 2
, and 3
d
d
d

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325

By moving the glass plate to and fro, the diameter of the circular rings may be altered. To
determine the ring diameter a circularly perforated screen is used as shown in the Figure-3.
By moving glass plate containing the Lycopodium powder, the rings formed is coincided
with the perforated rings marked on the plate.

Figure-3: Complete experimental setup

Apparatus Used
Sodium vapor lamp, optical bench with uprights, metal plate with equidistance holes drilled,
glass plate (3x2) and Lycopodium powder.

Experimental Procedure
1. Experimental set up is shown in the Figure-3.
2. Lycopodium powder is dusted uniformly on a glass plate and fitted to upright of the
optical bench.
3. On a metal sheet, number of small holes (2mm) are drilled at definite radial distances
and fitted in front of the sodium light. Light passing through these holes fall on the
glass plate containing Lycopodium powder.
4. Diffraction halos are observed when viewed through the eye piece. The pattern looks
like a set of regularly placed rings.
5. The first dark ring in diffraction pattern is made to coincide with the first set of holes
drilled on the metal plate. Therefore
1.22
r
= 1
d
D1
From which
1 =

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Lab Experiments

d=

1.22
D1
r1

Using this equation, diameter of the Lycopodium powder particles is calculated and
presented in Table-1.
6. Trial is repeated by coinciding the second and third rings on the metal plate are made
to coincide with the first diffraction dark ring, by moving the glass plate and
measuring the radii and distance of the glass plate from the metal plate, diameter of
the particles can be calculated.
7. Experiment is repeated for the second dark ring of the diffraction pattern also. The
results are tabulated in Table-1.
Table 1
Distance
Diameter of Lycopodium
Order of the
Radius of the between glass
powder
ring (n)
ring
plate and
D
d= n 10 5 (m)
R(m)
metal plate
r
D(m)
For first ring
0.010
0.411
2.955
n= 1.22
0.015
0.641
3.0723
0.020
0.891
3.2029
0.025
1.092
3.1403
For second ring
0.010
0.213
2.8493
n= 2.27
0.015
0.352
3.1416
0.020
0.471
3.1503
0.025
0.565
3.0232
Experimental observations Wavelength of sodium light, = 589.3 nm

Results
Average diameter of the Lycopodium powder particles, d = 3.067X10-5m
The standard sizes of Lycopodium powder vary from 2.8 x 10-5m to 3.5x10-5m.

References
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]

Dr Jeethendra Kumar P K, Fraunhoffer diffraction at circular aperture, LE Vol-3, No4, Page-284.

James Mallmann , Halos, Rings, and Arcs in the Sky
James A. Lock and James H. Andrews, Optical caustics in natural phenomena
Roy H.Biser Modern methods for the Study of Optical Diffraction
David Dutton, M Parker Givens, and Robert E. Hopkins, Some Demonstration
Experiments in Optics using a Gas Laser.

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