The interference that occurs due to the division of a wave front is known as wavefront division interference or Fresnel diffraction. It is a phenomenon that arises when a wavefront encounters an obstacle or an aperture that causes the wavefront to be divided or diffracted.
When a wavefront encounters an obstacle or an aperture, each point on the wavefront becomes a new source of secondary wavelets that spread out in all directions. These secondary wavelets then overlap and interfere with each other, creating a pattern of constructive and destructive interference.
The interference pattern that forms due to wavefront division depends on the size and shape of the obstacle or aperture, as well as the wavelength of the wave. If the dimensions of the obstacle or aperture are on the order of the wavelength of the wave, significant diffraction effects occur, resulting in intricate interference patterns.
In the case of a single slit diffraction experiment, for example, when a wavefront passes through a narrow slit, the wavefront divides into secondary wavelets that spread out and interfere with each other. This interference leads to a pattern of alternating bright and dark regions known as a diffraction pattern.
Wavefront division interference is a fundamental phenomenon in wave optics and plays a crucial role in various areas, such as the understanding of light propagation, diffraction, and interference phenomena. It has applications in fields like optics, acoustics, and radio waves, and is instrumental in technologies such as holography and interferometry.