Final answer:
The question involves the concept of wave interference in optics, particularly related to maximal elements in a diffraction pattern. The angle of the first minimum is calculated using specific formulas depending on the type of slit, and the highest-order maximum depends on the physical parameters of the diffraction setup.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the concepts of wave interference, specifically related to the diffraction pattern produced by slits, which is a topic in physical optics within the subject of Physics. When a light wave passes through a single slit or a double slit, it creates a pattern on a screen that consists of maximums and minimums due to constructive and destructive interference.
Maximal elements in a partial order generally refer to an element in a set that is not less than any other element with respect to the partial order. However, in the context of diffraction patterns, the terms first-order maximum or second-order maximum refer to bright fringes produced at certain angles where constructive interference occurs.
(b) The angle of the first minimum is typically calculated using the formula θ = arcsin(λ/d) for a single slit, where λ is the wavelength of the light and d is the width of the slit. For a double slit, the minima occur at angles given by θ = arcsin(mλ/d), where m is the order of the minimum, and m must be an integer plus 1/2.
(c) The highest-order maximum possible for a diffraction pattern is determined by the number of maximums that can be observed before the intensity becomes too low to detect or before the maximums merge into the diffraction minima. This depends on the wavelength, slit separation (for double slits), and the width of the slits.