Can diffraction grating be called interference grating?

is it true that a diffraction grating can just as well be called an inteference grating

Re: Is it true

Hi Shige,
Diffraction refers to various phenomena associated with the bending of waves when they interact with obstacles in their path. Its profound for waves where the wavelength is on the order of the size of the diffracting objects.

Interference usually refers to the interaction of waves which come from the same source or have the same or nearly the same frequencyhave the same or nearly the same frequency.

Now in case of diffration grating the spectrum of colors observed is due to diffraction of light components. Now when these slits if made wider then diffraction pattern is seizes and interferance is observed, as the nearby slits act as two coherent sources. So a difraction grating can be called a interferance grating or vice versa based on what property of light is dominant.

Hope that makes sense.

~Kalyan.

Re: Is it true

Thank you Kalya

Re: Is it true

Dear
To complete the last persons reply, I would like to answer your question from application point of view. Diffraction grating is a more general term than interference grating. It covers gratings with periods extend from hundereds of µm to nm.
good luck