Rayleigh-Sommerfeld Diffraction

Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction is a mathematical way to describe how light waves bend and spread when passing through an opening or around an obstacle. It builds on the principle that every point on a wavefront can be thought of as generating secondary wavelets that interfere to produce the resulting light pattern. This theory allows us to predict how light will diffract, or bend, beyond a slit or edge, helping us understand phenomena like the spreading of laser beams or the patterns seen in optical systems. It is a fundamental tool in wave optics for analyzing and designing optical devices.