6C20.10 Arago’s Spot

Arago’s Spot, also know as Fresnel bright spot, or Poisson spot, is a bright point that appears at the center of a circular object’s shadow due to Fresnel diffraction.

Arago’s Spot
Setup for Arago’s Spot
Set-up. Use He-Ne as the diode lasers don’t have enough coherence length to produce an good spot.

Set up: Laser -22mm lens about 5 cm from laser, .7 cm ball 40-60 cm from lens, screen about 3 meters from ball. Use a camera to show a whole class or have a bright He-Ne and a long throw. 🙂

Location, Glass plate with ball: J3-5, Laser: P1-4, Lens and mount: Optics cart