13. ssmA nonreflective coating of magnesium fluoride (n = 1.38) covers the glass (n = 1.52) of a camera lens. Assuming that the coating prevents reflection of yellow-green light (wavelength in vacuum = 565 nm), determine the minimum nonzero thickness that the coating can have.

 

This is for destructive interference which is what a non-reflecting coating would need.

 

Since both rays are phase shifted due to going from lower n reflecting from higher n, the two phase shifts cancel.  So the only phase difference is the optical path difference.

 

 

For smallest thickness we make m smallest which would be zero.

 

 

 

 

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This page last updated on July 7, 2018