-Sources must be coherent (mutually): maintain a constant phase

relationship.
- Sources should be monochromatic: single wavelength.
Conditions for Interference:
See Halliday & Resnick Book: Chapter 37 page: 1187-1191
http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/Demos/superposition/superpos
ition.html
Animation.
Fabry-Perot optical resonator: Multiple interference
Fabry-Perot resonator standing waves
For the 1D Helmholtz equation
and a time-harmonic signal, the solution will be in a form:
The integration constants A and B can be found from the boundary condition
that the tangential electric field must be zero at a metal wall. Therefore, B = 0,
where m is an integer (resonator mode) and L is the distance between the
metal walls.
( )
( ) 0
2
2
2
= + z E k
dz
z E d
x
x
( ) kz B kz A z E
x
cos sin + =
L
m
k
t
=
L m =
|
.
|

\
|
2

Fabry-Perot resonator
Each particular allowed
m
defines cavity mode.

Resonant frequency:

Frequency separation between two neighbouring modes

L
c
m
L
c
m
f f m
2
;
2
= =
|
.
|

\
|
= u u u
m m m
u u u = A
+1
http://www.walter-
fendt.de/ph14e/stwaverefl.htm