Fraunhofer Diffraction Pattern by a Slit Aperture between a Knife Edge and a Metal Cylinder

The Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of an aperture formed between a knife edge and a smooth surface of a turned metal cylinder or half cylinder is different from the diffraction pattern of an ideal slit aperture. The diffraction pattern is simulated by adding the light reflected by the cylinder surface to the pattern formed by a slit, and is measured using a cylinder that has been partly cut away so that it can represent either a full or half cylinder. The theoretical and measured patterns agree well with each other.