Newton's Rings

Newton's rings are known as one of the greatest findings of Isaac Newton. The original observation was first made with a wedge-shaped air-gap between the surfaces of two prisms, but he also found the same phenomenon happening when the convex surface of a lens superimposes on a flat glass plate. In fact, Newton tried to explain this phenomenon as a part of his theory; the light consistes of little particles. However, later on, Newton's Rings became a clear evedence of the wave nature of light.

  • Reflection


    The light hits on the substance and reflects.
    For example, the light that travels in the air hits on the glass, and reflects. Here, the incident angle and the reflection angle are the same.
    Reflection_1
    More precisely, the light can hit on the top surface and reflects (1), or the light first refracts and goes into the glass, and reflects at the bottom, and then refracts out (2).
    Reflection_2
    Sometimes, when the light are perpendicular to the substance, the light transmits without bending.
    Transmission_1
    Then, the light keeps travelling in the new substance, and eventually hits at the bottom of the material, and transmits again.
    Transmission_2

  • Newton's Rings Apparatus


    In addition to the flat glass, a spherical glass is placed on that with its convex side against the flat one.
    Newton's_Apparatus_1
    If the lights reach the flat surface of the spherical glass, the lights first transmit, and then either reflect on the spherical surface or transmit and hit on the flat surface.
    Newton's_Appratus_2
    Next, the conditions of the reflection on the spherical surface and on the flat surface are different. Here is the key point of explaining the wave nature of light. Since the light travels as a wave, the phase change occurs under a certain setting.

    Phase Change Rules due to Reflection

  • Reflection off larger index of refraction: phase change a half of the wavelength.(A)

  • Reflection off lower index of refraction: no phase change.(B)

  • Transmitting: no phase changes.(C)


    Rules
  • Interference
    So, where do the lights with different phases go? Do they travel separately or go together?
    Indeed, the light that reflects on the spherical surface and the light reflects on the flat surface meet and interfere.
    Let's start from observing the waves.
    Since the light travels as a wave, the simplest way to express the light is drawing a sine curve.
    sine
    When the two lights meet with the same phase, two waves interfere, and create a bigger wave. It occurs when two waves have exactly the same phase, and when the phases are 2npi different (i.e. n times lambda equivalent. where n=0,1,2,...)
    3sines
    On the other hand, if the two lights meet with different phases, they eliminate each other. Thus, the amplitude of the resultant wave becomes smaller.
    Especially, when the phase difference is n pi (n times 1/2 lambda equivalent, where n=0,1,3,5,...), two waves completely eliminate each other.


    flat_wave
    Now, we call the distance between two glasses "d".
    distance
    Then, the light that transmits and reflects on the flat surface travels 2d longer than the light that reflects on the spherical surface.
    closerlook
    Therefore, the total phase change (phay) is 2d + phase change caused by the reflection on the flat surface. When this distance 2d equals one wavelengthlambda: (phayphase change) = lambda + 1/2 lambda
    The two lights eliminate each other, and we see dark rings.(i.e. 2d= 1/2(lambda)(2m) where m=0,1, 2,...) As well as the dark ones, the bright rings appears when 2d equals 1/2 wavelength such as 1/2lambda" (2m+1). (where m=0,1,2,...)
    dark!
    In sum,

    dark rings:2d=(1/2lambda)(2m)

    bright rings:2d=(1/2lambda)(2m+1)

    where m= 0,1,2,3,...


    calculation
    Let's express these equations with radius(r) where the distance from the centre to the place of the fringes.
    Suppose the radius(R) of the spherical glass is very very large. Then, the distance(d) becomes very very small.

    (R-d)2 + r2 = R2


    Since the distance is very very small, R2 - 2dR + d2 + r2 = R2,
    d2 near = 0.
    Thus,
    2 d near r2 / R

    dark rings: 2 d = r2 / R = (1/2lambda)(2m)

    bright rings: 2 d = r2 / R = (1/2lambda)(2m+1)

    where m= 0,1,2,3,...


    Finally, we obtain
    DARK RINGS:
    rdark = dark
    BRIGHT RINGS:
    rbright = bright
    where m=0,1,2,...


    rings_1 rings_2
    Also, around the crests, the intensity becomes minimum due to the interference, (in this case, complete elimination happened.).
    The darkness becomes gradually lighter as it goes further from the crests.
    gradation"
    "Newton's rings" looks like this!!!
    Newton's

  • Monochromatic Lights vs White Light

    The monochromatic lights such as red, green, violet lights have different wave lengths. How do the Newton's rings differ by this?


  • Red light
    The wavelength is 780 nm.


    redrings
  • Green light
    The wavelength is 550 nm.
    greenrings
  • Violet Light
    The wavelength is 380 nm.
    violetrings
    The rings' radii are bigger in longer waves and smaller in shorter waves. Thus, if the white light goes through the Newton's rings apparatus, the each ray is separated, and reflects in different ways. As a result, the violet makes inner layers of the bright rings, and red makes outer layers on every bright part.
    However, as the radius increases, many lights interfere and are mixed together. Then, the colorful bands can no longer be seen clearly.

    References:
    Opticks: Isaac Newton. Fourth Edition. 1979. Dover Publications.New York.
    Light: R. W.Ditchburn. Volume One. 1976. Academic Press. London.