Optical Path Difference Calculator

Formula

The formula to calculate Optical Path Difference is:

\[ \Delta = (RI - 1) \cdot \frac{D}{d} \]

Where:

\(\Delta\) is the Optical Path Difference (m)
\(RI\) is the Refractive Index
\(D\) is the Distance between Slits and Screen (m)
\(d\) is the Distance between Two Coherent Sources (m)

Definition

Optical Path Difference is the difference in distance traveled by two light waves having the same frequency and initial phase but taking different paths to reach the same point.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following values:

Refractive Index (\(RI\)) = 1.333
Distance between Slits and Screen (\(D\)) = 0.202 m
Distance between Two Coherent Sources (\(d\)) = 0.106 m

Using the formula:

\[ \Delta = (1.333 - 1) \cdot \frac{0.202}{0.106} \]

Evaluating:

\[ \Delta = 0.634584905660377 \text{ m} \]

The Optical Path Difference is 0.634584905660377 m.

Conversion Chart

Refractive Index (RI)	Distance between Slits and Screen (D)	Distance between Two Coherent Sources (d)	Optical Path Difference (Δ, m)
1.3	0.202	0.106	0.571698113208
1.31	0.202	0.106	0.590754716981
1.32	0.202	0.106	0.609811320755
1.33	0.202	0.106	0.628867924528
1.34	0.202	0.106	0.647924528302
1.35	0.202	0.106	0.666981132075
1.36	0.202	0.106	0.686037735849
1.37	0.202	0.106	0.705094339623
1.38	0.202	0.106	0.724150943396
1.39	0.202	0.106	0.743207547170