Horizontally Adjustable Optical Slider

Details

Demo use only

Instances

Used in these demonstrations

$Green laser diffraction pattern from a wire showing a thin dark central shadow line flanked by bright diffracted light with visible vertical fringes on both sides$

Safety

Diffraction from a Wire

A laser beam diffracts around a thin wire, producing a fringe pattern equivalent to single-slit diffraction of the same width (Babinet's principle). Students see that light bends around opaque obstacles …

$Green laser diffraction pattern from mesh showing complex multi-directional array of bright spots against dark background$

Safety

Diffraction through Mesh

Laser light through circular apertures (0.04 and 0.08 mm) and mesh screens produces Fraunhofer diffraction patterns, demonstrating light's wave nature. Students observe Airy patterns and two-dimensional grating patterns, and verify …

$Four green laser single-slit diffraction patterns stacked vertically, from widest slit (top, narrow pattern) to narrowest slit (bottom, wide pattern with many visible side maxima)$

Safety

Electroformed Single Slits

Students observe single-slit Fraunhofer diffraction patterns produced by a laser through precision electroformed slits of different widths. Comparing the patterns demonstrates the inverse relationship between slit width and diffraction pattern …

$Four horizontal rows of green double-slit interference patterns on a dark background, each showing different fringe spacings and diffraction envelopes corresponding to the four slit configurations$

Safety

Electroformed Two-Slit Interference

Laser light through precision double slits produces interference patterns that demonstrate the wave nature of light. Four slit configurations allow direct comparison of how slit width and spacing affect fringe …

$Projected diffraction pattern in dark room: bright white zeroth-order stripe on left from projector, first-order continuous spectrum (blue through red) on right with discrete blue, green, and red laser spots visible within it$

Safety

Lasers and White Light

Compares diffraction of three individual laser wavelengths (red, green, blue) with white light from a slide projector through the same grating. Students see discrete laser spots at specific angles alongside …

$Red laser diffraction pattern showing an X-shaped cross with a bright central spot on a dark background$

Safety

X-ray Diffraction: Optical Analog

Laser light diffracting through a helical coiled filament produces an X-shaped pattern analogous to the famous "Photo 51" X-ray diffraction image of DNA. Students see how helical geometry produces distinctive …

Reserve This Equipment

Demo use only

This equipment supports lecture demonstrations and cannot be reserved directly — it is assigned automatically as part of a demonstration. To use it, request a demo that includes it.