Interference

doi:10.1117/3.2660873.ch3

Interference

Book: Fundamentals of Optics: An Introductory Course

Author(s): Yobani Mejía-Barbosa

Published: 2023

https://doi.org/10.1117/3.2660873.ch3

Abstract

In this chapter the most common interferometers are presented, starting with the Michelson interferometer, since it is very illustrative to study the interference of plane waves and spherical waves. The interference of multiple beams in a plate with parallel faces is then discussed, which also explains the operation of the Fabry–Pérot interferometer. In all cases, it is assumed that the surfaces of the optical elements that compose the interferometers are ideal, i.e., they coincide with their mathematical description. In practice, the manufacturing process of these elements limits the optical quality of the surfaces. Finally, some practical aspects of the Michelson interferometer, which may also be present in other interferometers, are discussed in Section 3.4.

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CHAPTER 3
76 PAGES

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