What is the Intensity Formula for Triple-Slit Interference?

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The discussion focuses on deriving the intensity formula for a triple-slit interference pattern, where three slits are positioned at y=-d, 0, and d on a screen, with a second screen placed a distance L away. To calculate the intensity at a point x on the second screen, the distances from x to each slit (d1, d2, d3) are considered, and the amplitudes of light from each slit are expressed using sine functions related to these distances. The intensity is determined by squaring the sum of these amplitudes and incorporating an intensity factor based on the individual beam intensity (I_0). The user seeks clarification on how this triple-slit setup differs from the more familiar double-slit experiment. Overall, the thread emphasizes the mathematical approach to understanding interference patterns in multi-slit experiments.
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I'm having a bit of trouble with this problem:

Three slits of negligible width are cut into points y=-d,0,d on a screen. A second screen is placed parallel to the first a distance L(L>>d) away. Light is projected through the slits onto the screen, forming an interference pattern. Express the intensity of the pattern in terms of L, d, lamda, I_0 (the intensity of each beam individually), and the height h along the screen.

I'm not sure exactly how similar this triple slit experiment would be compared to the more common double-slit experiments. I would appreciate it if the differences between the two were explained. Thanks in advance for any and all responses.
 
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patapat said:
I'm having a bit of trouble with this problem:

Three slits of negligible width are cut into points y=-d,0,d on a screen. A second screen is placed parallel to the first a distance L(L>>d) away. Light is projected through the slits onto the screen, forming an interference pattern. Express the intensity of the pattern in terms of L, d, lamda, I_0 (the intensity of each beam individually), and the height h along the screen.

I'm not sure exactly how similar this triple slit experiment would be compared to the more common double-slit experiments. I would appreciate it if the differences between the two were explained. Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

Here are some ideas. Take a point point x on the second screen and denote d1, d2, d3 shortest distances from x to the three slits. Assume that external light arrives to all three slits with the same phase, then the amplitudes of light arriving at the point x and passed through slits 1, 2, and 3 will be proportional to sin (2 \pi d_1/ \lambda), sin (2 \pi d_2/ \lambda), and sin (2 \pi d_3/ \lambda), respectively. Then in order to find the light intensity at the point x you should calculate a square of the sum of these three terms and multiply this square by an appropriate intensity factor.
 
That makes sense, but I'm not exactly sure what u mean by light intensity factor.
 
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