This is version 1.0.1 of a previously submitted program. This archive contains version 1.0.1 of the Fresnel Diffraction Explorer, an educational and scientific program that simulates Fresnel diffraction patterns for any arbitrary two-dimensional aperture. See for more info and 68k version.
Diffraction is a phenomena arising from the wave nature of light.
Fresnel diffraction occurs when a point source radiates light in spherical waves, diffracts by an object, and projects a diffraction pattern instead of a shadow. But Fresnel diffraction has traditionally been very difficult to predict. While I was an undergraduate in physics at Harvey Mudd College, I created an algorithm to solve that problem, a problem I later learned was of significant interest in physics. And, of course, email me any comments or suggestions. The following is the PowerPC native Macintosh application.