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Textbook Solutions for Physics: Principles with Applications

Chapter 28 Problem 5SL

Question

Show that the diffraction spread of a laser beam, \(\approx \lambda /D\) (Section 28-11), is precisely what you might expect from the uncertainty principle. See also Chapters 24 and 25. [Hint: Since the beam’s width is constrained by the dimension of the aperture D, the component of the light’s momentum perpendicular to the laser axis is uncertain.]

Solution

Step 1 of 4)

The first step in solving 28 problem number trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: Show that the diffraction spread of a laser beam, \(\approx \lambda /D\) (Section 28-11), is precisely what you might expect from the uncertainty principle. See also Chapters 24 and 25. [Hint: Since the beam’s width is constrained by the dimension of the aperture D, the component of the light’s momentum perpendicular to the laser axis is uncertain.]
From the textbook chapter Quantum Mechanics of Atoms you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.

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Title Physics: Principles with Applications 7 
Author Douglas C. Giancoli
ISBN 9780321625922

Solved: Show that the diffraction spread of a laser beam,

Chapter 28 textbook questions

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