Final answer:
The distance from the central maximum to the first minimum signifies where light intensity diminishes due to destructive interference in a single-slit diffraction pattern, representing a boundary of the central bright fringe.
Step-by-step explanation:
The distance between the central maximum and the first minimum in wave optics, particularly in the context of a single-slit diffraction pattern, indicates the point where the intensity of light begins to significantly decrease from the centermost bright fringe. This occurs when light waves passing through different parts of the slit interfere destructively at a particular angle, resulting in darkness or minimum intensity. The position of the first minimum is given by the equation θ = 1.22 λ/D for a circular aperture, where λ is the wavelength of light, D is the diameter of the aperture, and θ is the angle from the central axis. In the case of a slit, the angle is determined by θ = λ/a, where a is the width of the slit. The width of the central maximum is generally wider than the following maxima, and the distance between subsequent minima will be lesser compared to the distance between the central maximum and the first minimum.