Basics of interferometer, principle and operation

The interferometer is an instrument to observe the symptoms of interference. Using the interference pattern on the He-Ne laser as one of the conditions is coherent light. An interferometer is a measuring device that utilizes the symptoms of interference. interference is meeting and obstruction, or coherent wave superpositions.

Theory of interferometer:

The interference phenomenon is always related to the wave theory of light. In essence light has a magnitude of amplitude, wavelength, phase and speed. If light passes through a medium, the speed will change. If the changes are measured, then the measurement of the wavelength of light can be done by interference.

An interferometer is a device that is able to determine the coherent ray wavelength.

Construction of interferometer:

image

The arrangement consists of the following:

  1. Two windows to form a test section

  2. A light source

  3. Two Lenses L1 and L2

  4. Two beam splitters B1 and B2

  5. Two mirrors M1 and M2

  6. A display Screen

The laser beam leading to the beam divider will be broken down into 2 coherent rays with an intensity of 50% each. Rays 1 will be reflected towards M1, while Rays 2 will be transmitted towards M2. Then, the light will be reflected by beam 1 and beam 2 returns to the beam divider. Rays that meet at one point on the beam divider will be focused on the spherical lens so that the interference pattern can be seen on the screen.

Operation of interferometer:

  1. Light rays from a source are collimated with a lens L1. That is, the light rays become a parallel beam of rays when they come out of the lens L1.

  2. This collimated light rays are then split by a beam splitter B1. The two beams traverse at right angles to each other.

  3. That is the beam splitter B1 makes half of the light to go to mirror M1. The remaining half is reflected towards mirror M2.

  4. Beam 1 is made to pass through the test section (to experience the flow field) and beam 2 travels an alternate path, but of equal length.

  5. The two beams are again brought together with the help of beam splitter S2 and are then focused onto the display screen.

  6. Because of the variation in the refractive properties of the flowing gas in the test section, beams-1 will have a travel path of different optical length when compared to that of beam 2. Because of this, the two beams will be out of phase and will interface when they are joined together at B2. This causes alternate bright and dark regions called fringes on the display screen.

  7. The number of fringes will be a function of the difference in the optical length of the two beams. That is, for a difference in the path lengths of one wavelength, one fringe will appear. For a difference in the path lengths two wavelengths, two fringes will appear and so on.

  8. It is to be noted that if medium I the test section has the same optical properties as that of the medium experience by beam 2, no fringe shifts will appear.

  9. Thus by observing ( and photographing) the interference effects, direct measurement of density variations of the flow in the test section can be obtained/ visualized.

  10. The only disadvantage in using this instrument is that it is difficult to align the setup to get beams that have travel paths of the same optical lengths.