Interference of Light

For structure (P):

$$\Delta x = \pi R - 2R = (\pi - 2)\frac{l}{2}$$

$$\text{For maxima: } (\pi - 2)\frac{l}{2} = n\lambda$$

$$l_{\min} = \frac{2\lambda}{\pi - 2} = \frac{2(0.29)}{3.14 - 2} = 0.51\text{ m}$$

For structure (Q):

$$\Delta x = 2l - l = l$$

$$\text{For maxima: } l = n\lambda$$

$$l_{\min} = \lambda = 0.29\text{ m}$$

For structure (R):

$$\Delta x = l + \pi R - l = \pi R$$

$$\text{From geometry: } R = \frac{l}{\sqrt{2}} \implies \Delta x = \frac{\pi l}{\sqrt{2}}$$

$$\text{For maxima: } \frac{\pi l}{\sqrt{2}} = n\lambda$$

$$l_{\min} = \frac{\sqrt{2}\lambda}{\pi} = \frac{\sqrt{2}(0.29)}{3.14} = 0.13\text{ m}$$

For structure (S):

$$\Delta x = (\sqrt{2}x + 2x) - (x + \sqrt{3}x) = (\sqrt{2} + 2 - \sqrt{3} - 1)x = 0.682x$$

$$\text{Given: } x + \sqrt{3}x = l \implies x = \frac{l}{1 + \sqrt{3}} = 0.366l$$

$$\Delta x = 0.682(0.366l) = 0.249l$$

$$\text{For maxima: } 0.249l = n\lambda$$

$$l_{\min} = \frac{\lambda}{0.249} = \frac{0.29}{0.249} \approx 1.19\text{ m}$$