Diffraction

Drawing of double slit diffraction

Description

The change or deflection in a wave pattern of light or sound. Diffraction occurs when light waves pass through an opening or past an opaque barrier. The light is deflected, or bent, toward the obscuring side of the opening or barrier. Shorter wavelengths are deflected less than longer wavelengths. The overlap of the wavelengths can cause interference and in some cases produce a diffraction pattern of light and dark bands.

Synonyms and Related Terms

diffraktion (Dan.); Beugung (Deut.); Diffraktion (Deut.); difracción (Esp.); diffraction (Fr.); diffractie (Ned.); dyfrakcja (Pol); difração (Port.);

Additional Images

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  Double slit diffraction illustrated using a laser

Authority

• R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966

• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)

• Walter C. McCrone, John Gustave Delly, The Particle Atlas, W. McCrone Associates, Chicago, IV, 1972

• External source or communication Comment: John Stacy, personal communication, 2001.

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffraction (Accessed Sept. 20, 2005)

• Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000