Fraunhofer diffraction

In optics, the Fraunhofer diffraction equation is used to model the diffraction of waves when plane waves are incident on a diffracting object, and the diffraction pattern is viewed at a sufficiently long distance (a distance satisfying Fraunhofer condition) from the object (in the far-field region), and also when it is viewed at the focal plane of an imaging lens.^[1]^[2] In contrast, the diffraction pattern created near the diffracting object and (in the near field region) is given by the Fresnel diffraction equation.

The equation was named in honor of Joseph von Fraunhofer^[3] although he was not actually involved in the development of the theory.

This article explains where the Fraunhofer equation can be applied, and shows Fraunhofer diffraction patterns for various apertures. A detailed mathematical treatment of Fraunhofer diffraction is given in Fraunhofer diffraction equation.

Fraunhofer diffraction equation

Diffraction

Huygens–Fresnel principle

Kirchhoff's diffraction formula

Fresnel diffraction

Airy disc

Fourier optics

Goodman, Joseph W. (1996). Introduction to Fourier Optics (second ed.). Singapore: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. p. 73. 0-07-024254-2.

ISBN

; Wolf, Emil (1999). Principles of Optics: Electromagnetic Theory of Propagation, Interference and Diffraction of Light (7th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-64222-4. OCLC 40200160.

Born, Max

Hecht, Eugene (2002). (4th ed.). Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0-321-18878-0. OCLC 47126713.

Optics

Jenkins, FA; White, HE (1957). Fundamentals of Optics (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.

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Fraunhofer diffraction

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