michelson interferometer
TRANSCRIPT
Michelson Interferometer
Configuration Source produces coherent and monochromatic light
Light is split and reflected from two mirrors, which is detected on a screen
By adjusting a movable mirror, a wavelength can be determined
Two configurations of Interferometer
Two mirrors are strictly
perpendicular
Two mirrors are not strictly
perpendicular
Sample problem
To change the intereference picture to m=500 lines, an adjustable mirror was moved a distance L=0.161mm. Determine the wavelength of light
Solution
We know that L equal to λ/2 corresponds to the shifting of interference pattern by 1 line, so that the general equation is L=m*λ/2
Rearranging this equation gives us λ=2L/m, where L=0.161mm and m=500
Plug in the values into equation: λ=2*0.161*10-4m/500=6.44*10-7m or 644nm (also corresponds to red color)
So, by moving a mirror in Michelson Interferometer we could determine the wavelength of light