Waves

We can understand the interference patterns created by shining a monochromatic light through multiple slits. It's the waves combining constructively or destructively to create antinodes and nodes respectively. But why does this still occur when using just one slit?

Single-Slit Difraction

Single-Slit Difraction 2

Every point in the slit is a source of a wave

Quite a nice summary of why a diffraction pattern forms from a single slit

Great university level summary of issue

 

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