Destructive interference intensity ($I_{\min }=(\sqrt{I_1}-\sqrt{I_2}{)}^2$)

For the same mutually coherent, equally polarized monochromatic waves, the wave interference minimum occurs at phase difference $\delta =(2m+1)\pi$, with integer $m$. The wave amplitudes subtract, giving $I_{\min }=I_1+I_2-2\sqrt{I_1{I}_2}$. Complete cancellation requires equal individual wave intensities; $1$ and $0.25$ leave $0.25$ in their common unit. A dark band is a local minimum, and the average across an interference fringe spacing still obeys conservation of energy.