Special and general relativity notes on the michelsonmorley interferometer how it works a monochromatic light wave has one frequency or wavelength. A michelson interferometer is a device that takes a beam of light, splits it into two separate beams, and then recombines them into a single beam again. The first deliberate interferometer, youngs twoslit experiment, divided a wavefront spatially and then recombined the parts. Experiment 4 the michelson interferometer 4 3 experiment in the following experiments, you will calibrate the movement of m 1 with the hene laser and use the interferometer to. At the same time, the three free elements present stu dents with a. Record of experiment actual notes from lab notebook shown on previous 4 pages. Ppt principles of interferometry powerpoint presentation. One beam is reflected from the reference mirror, and the other. Pdf an extreme ultraviolet michelson interferometer for. You will ultimately derive the wavelength of the light source from your measured interference pattern. Special and general relativity notes on the michelsonmorley. Lasers produce light that is monochromatic single wavelength and coherent same phase.
This tutorial gives a general introduction to optical and infrared interfer. Worlds best powerpoint templates crystalgraphics offers more powerpoint templates than anyone else in the world, with over 4 million to choose from. Lengths or displacements in terms of wavelengths of light. The michelson interferometer produces interference fringes by splitting a beam of monochromatic light so that one beam strikes a. Align the laser and interferometer in the michelson mode, so an interference pattern is clearly visible on your viewing screen. This applet lets you study the michelson interferometer and see the evolution of light rings as the parameters of the system are changed. Introduction the michelson interferometer is the fundamental form of a large variety of twobeam interferometer con.
The michelson interferometer was used in 1887 in the michelson morley experiment, which set out to prove or disprove the existence of luminiferous aethera substance at the time thought to permeate the universe. M1 and m2 are two plane mirrors silvered on the front. Experiment 8 michelson interferometer 1 introduction. Physics 263 experiment 8 michelson interferometer 1 introduction. A very good description of interference observed in michelson interferometer as well as many practical aspects about running experiment with michelson setup. References taylor, zafiratos and dubson, modern physics, second edition, section 1.
The michelson interferometer is a common configuration for optical interferometry and was invented by albert abraham michelson. Setting up a michelson interferometer on the laser optics base plate determining the wavelength of the light of an hene laser using a michelson interferometer determination of the coherence. This instrument can produce both types of interference fringes i. The michelsonmorley interferometer experiment of 1887 is often cited as one of the cornerstones and perhaps the cornerstone upon which einstein built his theory of special. Jan 12, 2011 michelson interferometer is a small, java based application specially designed to help you study the michelson interferometer and see the evolution of light rings as the parameters of the system. This tutorial gives a general introduction to optical and infrared interferometry. The michelson interferometer equipment preparation goals. The michelson interferometer uses light interference to measure distances in units of the wavelength of light from a particular source. There are numerous types with various features, but only two distinctly different strategies. The schematic of michelson interferometer is shown in fig. The case of a point source, which corresponds to the twyman interferometer, is also analyzed. The objective of this experiment is to demonstrate the interference pattern obtained from combining coherent monochromatic light beams using a michelson interferometer setup.
Michelson interferometer 1 michelson interferometer 2 interferometry is the applied science of combining two or more input points of a particular data type. Experiment o6 michelson interferometer abstract a michelson interferometer, constructed by the student, is used to measure the wavelength of hene laser light and the index of refraction of a flat transparent sample. Experiment 4 the michelson interferometer 4 3 experiment in the following experiments, you will calibrate the movement of m 1 with the hene laser and use the interferometer to accurately measure the wavelengths of the. Using a michelson interferometer to measure coefficient of.
We describe a basic michelson laser interferometer experiment for the. The basic elements of a michelson interferometer are shown in fig. Fiber optic and free space michelson interferometer principle. Schematic illustration of a michelson interferometer. Introduction the michelson interferometer is the fundamental form of a large variety of twobeam interferometer. Data analysis calibration with hene laser below is a plot of the data taken with the hene laser light injected into the michelson interferometer.
In this experiment, you will use a michelson interferometer to determine the wavelength of laser light, as well as to investigate the index of refraction of air and how it is affected by changes in. Characteristics for various light sources are summarized below. M1 and m2 are two plane mirrors silvered on the front surfaces. When set up correctly the michelson interferometer. Experiment 4 the michelson interferometer 2 figure 1. The active surfaces of the optical components must never be touched with the. In this experiment, youll use the interferometer to measure the wavelength of your light source. Electromagnetic waves interfere with each other in the same way as mechanical waves. It was developed by albert michelson and used, in 1893, to measure the standard meter in units of the wavelength of the red line in the cadmium spectrum. Screws are provided in front of the holders, adjusting of which. Its capable of measuring the wavelength of monochromatic light with an accuracy of better than 5%.
Using a beam splitter, a light source is split into two arms. Scribd is the worlds largest social reading and publishing site. Michelson interferometer is best known for its use in the michelsonmorley experiment, which disproved the existence of the luminiferous ether and paved the way to the development of the. Interferometry is an important investigative technique in the fields of astronomy, fiber optics, engineering metrology, optical metrology, oceanography, seismology, spectroscopy and its applications to chemistry, quantum mechanics, nuclear and particle physics, plasma physics, remote sensing, biomolecular interactions, surface profiling. Please refer to the following links for a detailed answer. All modern interferometers have evolved from this first one since it demonstrated how the properties of light can be used to make. The fringe visibility of an interferometer gives information. The michelson interferometer was used in 1887 in the michelsonmorley experiment, which set out to prove or disprove the existence of luminiferous aethera substance at the time. Principles of interferometry, jackson 2007, lnp 742, 193. We describe a basic michelson laser interferometer experiment for the undergraduate teaching laboratory that. Generically, an interferometer is a device for producing interference between two or more waves. Typical interferometer the expanded beam exiting from the light source is divided by a beamsplitter into two beams.
Experiment 8 michelson interferometer 1 introduction the michelson interferometer uses light interference to measure distances in units of the wavelength of light from a particular source. Paper and wooden models are often created during the project to aid our engineering and manufacturing team construct the real instruments. The fringe visibility of an interferometer gives information about the fourier transform of the sky brightness distribution. The schematic of michelson interferometer is shown in.
Each of those light beams is reflected back toward the beamsplitter which then combines their amplitudes using the superposition principle. Hariharan di y ision of applied physics csiro sydney, australia 2 1. Michelson interferometer lab report robert clancy 04329741 november 9, 2005 abstract in this experiment the famous michelson interferometer and some of its uses are investigated. Michelson interferometer is a small, java based application specially designed to help you study the michelson interferometer and see the evolution of light rings as the. Themichelsoninterferometer simon fraser university. Astrophysics group, cavendish laboratory, university of. Michelson interferometer definition and applications. This controls the length of the ac arm of the interferometer and hence the path di. Interferometry is a family of techniques in which waves, usually electromagnetic waves, are superimposed, causing the phenomenon of interference, which is used to extract information.
The instruments based upon the principle of interference are called interferometers. Follow parts 1 and 2 of the experiment including the subsequent analyses using the michelson interferometer setup. Vinzenz hilbert, alexander blinne, silvio fuchs, torsten. Repeat part 1 but this time use the fabryperot interferometer setup. It can be used to carry out the following principal measurements. The michelson stellar interferometer is used for interfrometre the diameter of stars. These are basic optical tools used to precisely measure wavelength. Experiment o6 michelson interferometer abstract a michelson interferometer, constructed by the student, is used to measure the wavelength of hene laser light and the index of refraction. One of his instruments was the michelson interferometer. They are mounted vertically on two rigid holders placed at the sides of a flat metal stand. This interferometer is a precision instrument for the introductory lab. Our new crystalgraphics chart and diagram slides for powerpoint is a collection of over impressively designed datadriven chart and editable diagram s guaranteed to impress any audience. Originally michelson designed his interferometer as a means to test for the existence of the ether, a hypothesized medium in which light propagated. Michelsons interferometer consists of one semitransparent mirror and two mirrors.
The same experiment depicted as an interferometer for internal states. Michelson designed and built an interferometer using a similar principle. Data analysis calibration with hene laser below is a plot of the data taken with the hene laser light. In astronomy such as with the keck telescopes, this is used to combine light from two or more. The main features of the interferometer are shown schematically in figure 1. The principle of such a detector is to use free falling atoms to measure the phase. Neutronoptical components in this case comprise three gratings. Blivion blivion is a software tool for analysing biolayer interferometry measurements of the binding of larg. If you have a pair of polarizers, you can also investigate the polarization of your source. Reviewing michelson interferometer experiment and measuring the speed of starlight. Only recently, a neutron interferometer for cold and ultracold neutrons was designed and successfully run. Ppt michelson interferometer powerpoint presentation. Mirror 1 m1 inside the michelson interferometer is being translated at a constant speed by a motor.
One beam wave 1 goes through path l 1, and is incident on the mirror. The observables measured by an interferometer are fringe visibility and closure phase, which can then be tted by a model or used to reconstruct an. Special and general relativity notes on the michelson. In optics, to form a greater picture based on the combination of the two sources. Using a beam splitter, a light source is split into two. In the beck apparatus, m2 of the michelson optics is mounted on a carriage that is driven by a micrometer. Mercury it is less expensive source having high intensity, and green line. Long baselines record information about the smallscale structure of the source but are insensitive to largescale structure fringes wash out. Paper and wooden models are often created during the project to aid our engineering and manufacturing team construct the real. Michelson interferometer is a tool to produce interference between two beams of light. An extreme ultraviolet michelson interferometer for experiments at free. Both mirrors in a michelson interferometer can be replaced with girestournois etalons. Introductory michelson interferometer os8501 products. Waves with the same frequency will interfere constructively when in phase and destructively when out of phase.
The viewer will see the two beams of light which have traveled along different. In this diagram, refraction is ignored and antiparallel rays are slightly displaced for the sake of clarity. The primary limitation for guidedwave atom interferometers with a large arm separation is. In this experiment, you will use a michelson interferometer made by r. The michelson interferometer in 1881, 78 years after young introduced his twoslit experiment, a. It is the most common design for optical interferometry and was invented by albert abraham michelson.
These days, the michelson interferometer is used for very accurate determinations of the wavelength of spectral lines. A light source is split into two beams by the beam splitter s. Michelson interferometer wave optics optics physics. Its easier to use, more compact, and less expensive than pascos advanced interferometer. Similar principle to 2 wide slits in youngs slits experiment. This is comparable to the usual value presented in textbooks of. Experiment o6 michelson interferometer abstract references. Michelson interferometers are complex to design and build. Retrieved 3 april retrieved 4 april reflected light from the tissue sample is combined with interferomeetre light from the reference. A basic michelson laser interferometer for the undergraduate.
Include your analyses of parts 1 and 2 and answer the corresponding questions in your lab report. Chart and diagram slides for powerpoint beautifully designed chart and diagram s for powerpoint with visually stunning graphics and animation effects. Bedding school of physics, university of sydney 2006, australia abstract. As shown in fig 3, the fringe spacing and the plane of. The michelsonmorley interferometer experiment of 1887 is often cited as one of the cornerstones and perhaps the cornerstone upon which einstein built his theory of special relativity.