Question 705037
A finite sized light source is used in a double slit experiment. The observed intensity pattern changes from figure (a) to figure (b), as shown below. The observed change can occur due to:
narrowing of the slits.
a reduction in the distance between the slits.
a decrease in the coherence length of the light source.
a reduction in the size of the light source.
Detailed Solution
The transition from a sharp interference pattern (a) to a blurred/washed-out pattern (b) in a double-slit experiment using a finite-sized source is characteristic of a decrease in the spatial coherence of the source. This corresponds to a decrease in the coherence length.
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