Abstract

Interference and diffraction are attributed to wave nature of light .To verify possible alternative cause, experiments conducted from September 1998 to January 2011 at Bayyarapu Physics Laboratories (BPL) Hyderabad India have revealed that these phenomena are due to superfluidity layer adhering to the surfaces of solids and liquids even at room temperature. The superfluid layer, a state between liquid and gas, is formed by ambient gases and density ripples pervade it at all temperatures. The fluid layer is compressible and is displaced by pressure. Patterns in the experiments of Newton’s Rings, Fresnel’s biprism, Michelson interferometer, oil slicks and soap films are due to density ripples in the fluid layer. Monochromatic light forms bright and dark fringes while white light forms coloured bands owing to reflection, refraction and dispersion of photons in the fluid layer. Density ripples that taper off in the fluid layer are responsible for bending of photons around the solid surface and diffraction pattern.