Dirac delta - I'm new to matlab and need help!

Hi there,

So basically this semester I am taking an introductory course in computational mathematics and we are using matlab. Actually this question is related to something else and I would just like to point out that I am very new to matlab (have less thn 2 weeks of classes thus far!)

Ok so basically I'm doing a physics experiment on the double slit. -I have sets of data for the intensity of light reaching the detector with both 1 slit open (on each sides), as well as both slits open (double slit).

What I aim to do is show that, if p1 denotes the intensity profile of the left slit open and p2 the intensity of the right slit open- then p1+p2^2 does not represent the intensity of the double slit, in essence I just want to validate the wave nature of light. Actually I would also try to validate the formula p1+p2^2 = p1^2 + p2^2 + 2Re(p1*p2*|.

What I have done thus far is entered the data for both single slits into matlab and chosen a curve of best fit, in particular a polynomial of degree 10 which models the intensity very well.

Well, at first I tried to verify the formula using the polynomials, but nothing good came out of it. So I thought (and actually am not sure if I will just get the same result), maybe I should do a fourier transform, after all a wave is not represented by a polynomial..(even though the fourier transform would be equal to the polynomial in the vicinity..I'm not sure it would make a difference).

I then tried to find the fourier transforms of both intensities and end up with the derivative of the dirac delta function. And basically, from here, I don't know what to do.

In essence, all I really want to do is be able to plot p1^2 + p2^2 + 2Re(p1*p2*| and hope that it has a relatively similar shape to my intensity pattern for the double slit!

Perhaps there is a better way to find a best fit for my data? I am simply entering my data,into the "plot" menu of the newer matlab, then using "simple best fit".

Is there a way I can go straight to a fourier transform only having (x,y) values? If so how?

Any input is much appreciated, thanks!