What Is Fringe in Wave Optics?

In wave optics, a fringe is a bright or dark band that appears on a screen due to the interference or diffraction of light waves. When light passes through slits or edges, the waves overlap and create a pattern of bright and dark regions. These alternating lines are called fringes.

Types of Fringes

• Bright Fringe: Formed when two light waves meet in the same phase (constructive interference).
• Dark Fringe: Formed when two light waves meet in opposite phases (destructive interference).

Examples

• Young’s Double Slit Experiment: Produces a series of bright and dark fringes on a screen.
• Diffraction Grating: Creates multiple fringes used in spectroscopy.