Basic Interference and

Classes of Interferometers

•• Basic
BasicInterference
Interference
–Two
–Twoplane
planewaves
waves
–Two
–Two sphericalwaves
spherical waves
–Plane
–Planewave
waveand
andspherical
sphericalwave
wave
•• Classes
Classes of
ofInterferometers
Interferometers
–Division
–Divisionof
ofwavefront
wavefront
–Division
–Division ofamplitude
of amplitude

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 1 of 26

Optical Detectors Respond to

Square of Electric Field

r r r
E = E1 + E2 = E1aˆ1ei ( ω1t + α 1 ) + E2aˆ2ei( ω 2t + α 2 )
r r 2
I = Constant E1 + E2
[
= Constant E12 + E22 + 2E1E2 (aˆ1 ⋅ aˆ2 ) cos[(ω1 − ω2 )t + α1 − α2 ] ]
I = I1 + I2 + 2 I1I2 ( aˆ1 ⋅ aˆ2 )cos[(ω1 − ω 2 )t + α1 − α 2 ]

Irradiance at each point varies cosinusoidally with

time at the difference frequency

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 2 of 26

Basic Interference and Classes of Interferometers - James C. Wyant

Page 1
 Interference Fringes

I = I1 + I2 + 2 I1I2 ( aˆ1 ⋅ aˆ2 ) cos[(ω1 − ω 2 )t + α1 − α 2 ]

Let ω1 = ω 2

I = I1 + I2 + 2 I1I2 (aˆ1 ⋅ aˆ2 )cos(α1 − α 2 )

Bright interference fringe Dark interference fringe

α1 − α 2 = 2 π  m + 
1
α1 − α 2 = 2 π m
2

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 3 of 26

Interference of Two Plane Waves

r
E1 = E1ei (k1r⋅r −ωt +φ1 )aˆ1
r r

r
E2 = E2ei (k2 ⋅r − ω t+ φ2 )aˆ2
y r

r
k1 = k (cos θ1 iˆ + sin θ1 ˆj )
θ1 r
k2 = k (cos θ2 iˆ + sin θ2 ˆj )
x
k1 θ2
r
r = x iˆ + y ˆj , k = 2 π
k2
λ
r r r r
α = α1 − α2 = k1 ⋅ r − k2 ⋅ r + φ1 − φ 2 Let φ1 = φ 2

Bright fringe Dark fringe

α = 2π m
= k[x(cos θ 1 − cosθ 2 ) + y(sinθ 1 − sinθ 2 )] (
α = 2π m + 1
2 )
Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 4 of 26

Basic Interference and Classes of Interferometers - James C. Wyant

Page 2
 Fringe Spacing
I = I1 + I2 + 2 I1I2 (aˆ1 ⋅ aˆ2 )cos(α1 − α 2 )

Bright fringe
α = α1 − α2 = 2 πm = k[x(cos θ1 − cos θ2 ) + y(sin θ1 − sin θ2 )]

Straight equi-spaced fringes

Look in x=0 plane
Fringe spacing

∆y = sin θ λ
1 − sin θ2

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 5 of 26

Fringe Visibility
I
I1 + I2 + 2( aˆ1 ⋅ aˆ2 ) I1I2 AC

I1 + I2
I1 + I2 − 2( aˆ1 ⋅ aˆ2 ) I1I2 DC

∆y

Fringe Visibility = V = IImax − Imin

max + Imin
if aˆ1 ⋅ aˆ2 = 1

V = 2 I1I2 = AC
I1 + I2 DC
Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 6 of 26

Basic Interference and Classes of Interferometers - James C. Wyant

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 Fringe Spatial Frequency
(1) (2)
φ/2 φ/2 λ=633 nm
φ
(1)

2sin (φ / 2 ) sin φ
νs = νs =
λ λ (2)
νs
(l / mm)

φ (Degrees )
Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 7 of 26

Moiré Pattern - Two Plane Waves

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 8 of 26

Basic Interference and Classes of Interferometers - James C. Wyant

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 Effect of Polarization Direction
Ep
y

Es θ2

Ep θ1 x

Es

Dependence of aˆ1 ⋅ aˆ 2 on angle for s and p polarization

s polarization: aˆ1 ⋅ aˆ2 = 1 for all angles
p polarization: aˆ1 ⋅ aˆ2 depends upon angle
Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 9 of 26

Interference of Two Spherical Waves

S1 r r
r − r1
r
P(r )

r r
r − r2
S2

r r r
E1 = aˆ1 r B1 r ei[k r − r1 − ω t + φ1 ]
r − r1
r
E2 = aˆ2 r B2r ei[k r − r2 −ωt + φ2 ]
r r

r − r2

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 10 of 26

Basic Interference and Classes of Interferometers - James C. Wyant

Page 5
Two Spherical Waves - Fringe Shape

r r r
E1 = aˆ1 r B1 r ei[k r − r1 − ω t + φ1 ] I1 = r B1 r ≈ Constant
r − r1 r − r1
r
E2 = aˆ2 r B2r ei[k r − r2 −ωt + φ2 ]
r r

r − r2 I2 = r B2r ≈ Constant
r − r2

r r r r
α = 2 π { r − r1 − r − r2 } + φ1 − φ2
λ
= Constant for given fringe

Hyperbolic Fringes

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 11 of 26

Moiré Pattern - Spherical Waves

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 12 of 26

Basic Interference and Classes of Interferometers - James C. Wyant

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 Spherical Waves - Special Case #1

r r
r − r1

2c r r
r − r2
xo

if xo >> 2c then
2cy
mλ = x
o

Same result as for two plane waves

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 13 of 26

Moiré Pattern - Straight Line Fringes

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 14 of 26

Basic Interference and Classes of Interferometers - James C. Wyant

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 Spherical Waves - Special Case #2
y

For bright fringe

r r r r
x
mλ = r − r1 − r − r2
(x 2 + z2 ) c
Yo
= 2c −
2c Yo2

Fringes are concentric circles

2c− mλ 1 = 2c r
r= Yo spatial frequency = ∆r
c yo2λ
Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 15 of 26

Concentric Circular Fringes

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 16 of 26

Basic Interference and Classes of Interferometers - James C. Wyant

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 Interference of Plane Wave and
Spherical Wave

xo y
If xo >> y and z then
x

  y2 + z 2  
α = 2 π  ysin θ − xo 1 + 
λ   2xo2  
θ

y2 + z2
If θ = 0 bright fringe when 2xo = −(mλ + xo ) = m’ λ

Circular fringes of radius r = 2xom’ λ

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 17 of 26

Two Basic Classes of Interferometers

• Division of Wavefront
• Division of Amplitude

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 18 of 26

Basic Interference and Classes of Interferometers - James C. Wyant

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 Division of Wavefront
(Young’s Two Pinholes)

Source

Two Pinholes Interference of two

spherical waves

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 19 of 26

Division of Wavefront
(Lloyd’s Mirror)

S1

Mirror
Interference of
two spherical
waves
S2

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 20 of 26

Basic Interference and Classes of Interferometers - James C. Wyant

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 Division of Wavefront
(Fresnel’s Mirrors)

M1

S1 M2

S2

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 21 of 26

Division of Wavefront
(Fresnel’s Biprism)

S1

S2

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 22 of 26

Basic Interference and Classes of Interferometers - James C. Wyant

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 Division of Amplitude
(Beamsplitter)

Beamsplitter

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 23 of 26

Division of Amplitude
(Diffraction)

d sin θ = m λ

Diffraction Grating

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 24 of 26

Basic Interference and Classes of Interferometers - James C. Wyant

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 Division of Amplitude and
Division of Wavefront

Polarization

Lateral Displacement Angular Displacement

O OA
E

O E
OA

Savart Plate Wollaston Prism

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 25 of 26

Division of Amplitude and

Division of Wavefront

Plane Parallel Plate

Optics 505 - James C. Wyant Page 26 of 26

Basic Interference and Classes of Interferometers - James C. Wyant

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