Intreferometer

Interferometer

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Table of Contents

Section Page
Basic Experiments
Experiment 1: Michelson Interferometer ................................................................. 3
Experiment 2: Fabry-perot Interferometer ............................................................... 6

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Experiment 1: Michelson Interferometer

Interferometery
Optical Interferometry is the technique of diagnosing the properties of two or more light
waves by studying the pattern of interference created by their superposition. The optical
instrument used to interfere the waves together is called an interferometer.

Interferometry makes use of the principle of superposition to combine separate waves when
two waves with the same frequency combine, the resulting pattern is determined by the phase
difference between the two waves—waves that are in phase will undergo constructive
interference while waves that are out of phase will undergo destructive interference.

Thomas Young was one of the first to design a method for producing such an interference
pattern. He allowed a single, narrow beam of light to fall on two narrow, closely spaced slits.
Opposite the slits he placed a viewing screen.
Where the light from the two slits struck the screen, a regular pattern of dark and bright bands
appeared.

THEORY

In 1881, 78 years after Young introduced his two-slit experiment, Michelson designed and
built an interferometer using a similar principle. Originally Michelson designed his
interferometer as a means to test for the existence of the ether, a hypothesized medium in
which light propagated. Due in part to his efforts, the ether is no longer considered a viable
hypothesis.

But beyond this, Michelson's interferometer has become a widely used instrument for
measuring the wavelength of light, for using the wavelength of a known light source to
measure extremely small distances, and for investigating optical media.

Figure.1(a) Figure.1(b)

Figure 1 (a) shows a diagram of a Michelson interferometer. The beam of light from the laser
strikes the beam-splitter which is made from a half silvered mirror .The beam splitter reflects
50% of the incident light and transmits the other 50%. The incident beam is therefore split

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into two beams; one beam is transmitted toward the movable mirror (M1), the other is
reflected toward the fixed mirror (M2).
Both mirrors reflect the light directly back toward the beam-splitter. Half the light from (M1)
is reflected from the beam-splitter to the viewing screen and half the light from (M2) is
transmitted through the beam-splitter to the viewing screen.

Notice that one beam passes through the glass of the beam-splitter only once, while the other
beam passes through it three times. A compensator is inserted in the beam path, so both
beams pass through the same thickness of glass. The compensator is identical to the beam-
splitter, but without the reflective coating.

In this way the original beam of light is split, and portions of the resulting beams are brought
back together to interfere. When a lens is placed between the laser source and the beam-
splitter, the light ray spreads out, and an interference pattern of dark and bright rings, or
fringes, is seen on the viewing screen as in Figure.1(b).

Interference occurs because the two interfering beams of light were split from the same initial
beam, hence they are initially in phase. These beams travel along different paths, thus Their
relative phase when they meet at any point on the viewing screen depends on the difference in
the length of their optical paths in reaching that point.

By moving M1, the path length of one of the beams can be varied. Since the beam traverses
the path between M1 and the beam-splitter twice, The change in path length is twice the
movement of the mirror. Moving (M1) 1/4 wavelength nearer the beam-splitter will reduce
the optical path of that beam by 1/2 wavelength. Which causes the interference pattern to
change.

By using a built in micrometer to slowly move the mirror a measured distance , and
counting , the number of times the fringe pattern is restored to its original state, the
wavelength of the light can be calculated as:

EQUIPMENT

–Basic Interferometer with a built in interferometer.

–Laser .
– Laser Alignment Bench .
– Interferometer Accessories (lens-beam splitter-compensator-movable mirror-
adjustable mirror) .
– Component Holder.

OBJECTIVE
Measure the wavelength of He-Ne laser .

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PROCEDURE

1.Align the laser and interferometer in the

Michelson mode (Figure.2) , so an
interference pattern is clearly visible on
your viewing screen.
2. Adjust the micrometer knob to a medium
reading (approximately 50 µm). In this
position.
3. Turn the micrometer knob one full turn
counterclockwise. Continue turning counter
clockwise until the zero on the knob is
aligned with the index mark. Record the
micrometer reading.

NOTE: When you reverse the direction in

which you turn the micrometer knob, there
is a small amount of give before the mirror
Figure.2
begins to move. This is called mechanical
backlash, and is present in all mechanical systems involving reversals in direction of
movement. By beginning with a full counterclockwise turn, and then turning only
counterclockwise when counting fringes, you can eliminate errors due to backlash.

4. Mark the reference position you've obtained and record your result as (
5. Rotate the micrometer knob slowly counterclockwise. Count the fringes as they pass your
reference mark, (count at least 50 fringes). As you finish your count, the fringes should be in
the same position as the reference mark. record the reading (
6.Repeat the steps three times and record the values

ANALYSIS
7. Calculate the wave length each time using the following relation

8. Tabulate the results ,the obtained table should look as following

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

8. Calculate the error

Note that (nm)

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Experiment 2: Fabry-Perot Interferometer

THEORY

Figure.3(a) Figure.3(b)

In the Fabry-Perot Interferometer, two partial mirrors are aligned parallel to one another,
forming a reflective cavity. Figure.3 (a) shows two rays of light entering such a cavity and
reflecting back and forth inside.
At each reflection, part of the beam is transmitted, splitting each incident ray into a series of
rays. Since the transmitted rays are all split from a single incident ray, they have a constant
phase relationship.The phase relationship between the transmitted rays depends on the angle
at which each ray enters the cavity and on the distance between the two mirrors.
The result is a circular fringe pattern, similar to the Michelson pattern, but with fringes that
are thinner, brighter, and more widely spaced. The sharpness of the Fabry-Perot fringes
makes it a valuable tool in high-resolution spectrometry.
As with the Michelson Interferometer, as the movable mirror is moved toward or
away from the fixed mirror, the fringe pattern shifts. When the mirror movement is
equal to 1/2 of the wavelength of the light source, the new fringe pattern is identical to
the original.

EQUIPMENT

–Basic Interferometer with a built in interferometer.

–Laser .
– Laser Alignment Bench .
– Interferometer Accessories (lens-movable mirror-adjustable mirror) .
– Component Holder.

OBJECTIVE

Measure the wavelength of He-Ne laser .

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PROCEDURE

1.Align the laser and interferometer in the

Fabry-Perot mode (Figure.4), so an
interference pattern is clearly visible on
your viewing screen.

2. Adjust the micrometer knob to a

medium reading (approximately 50 µm).
In this position.
3. Turn the micrometer knob one full turn
counterclockwise. Continue turning
counter clockwise until the zero on the
knob is aligned with the index mark.
Record the micrometer reading.

NOTE: When you reverse the direction in

which you turn the micrometer knob, there
is a small amount of give before the Figure.4
mirror begins to move. This is called mechanical backlash, and is present in all mechanical
systems involving reversals in direction of movement. By beginning with a full
counterclockwise turn, and then turning only counterclockwise when counting fringes, you
can eliminate errors due to backlash.

4. Mark the reference position you've obtained and record your result as (
5. Rotate the micrometer knob slowly counterclockwise. Count the fringes as they
pass your reference mark, (count at least 50 fringes). As you finish your count, the
fringes should be in the same position as the reference mark. record the reading (
6.Repeat the steps three times and record the values

ANALYSIS

7. Calculate the wave length each time using the following relation

8. Tabulate the results ,the obtained table should look as following

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

8. Calculate the error

Note that (nm)

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