Lecture 19: Spectroscopy using Fabry-Perot

interferometer

Lecture aims to explain:

1. Fabry-Perot spectroscopy, examples

2. Spectral resolution using Fabry-Perot interferometer

3. Free spectral range of Fabry-Perot interferometers

Fabry-Perot Interferometer, reminder

1.0
lens

Normalised transmitted intensity

ground etalon
focal plane 0.8
glass
0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Phase difference δ

4πnt cos θ
δ=
λ
Example 19.1 1.0

Normalised transmitted intensity

0.8
Calculate the intensity (relative to
maximum) of the transmitted light exactly 0.6

in the middle between the adjacent 0.4 F=100

fringes for etalons with F=1, 10 and 100. F=10
F=1
0.2
F=0.2
Calculate FWHM (in terms of phase) of 0.0
the fringes in these etalons. 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Phase difference δ
 Rayleigh criterion for Fabry-Perot spectroscopy

1.0 γ
Spectral resolution criterion: two close wavelengths
Fringe intensity

are just resolved if the cross-over of the two fringes

λ1 in interference patterns of these two wavelengths is
λ at the half maximum of intensity
0.5

The resolving power of a Fabry-Perot

interferometer
λ mπ F mπR
= =
δ0 δ1
0.0

∆λ
Phase δ
2 ( 1-R 2 )
Free spectral range
We need to consider the problem of overlapping orders
leading to the notion of the free spectral range.

The maxima of two wavelengths overlap when

m( λ0 + ∆λ ) = ( m + 1 )λ0 ⇒ ∆λ = λ / m

The free spectral range is given by

( ∆λ ) fsr = λ / m

m is a few 1000 for a Fabry-Perot interferometer leading to an extremely

small free spectral range
Example 19.2
A Fabry-Perot interferometer operating at normal incidence is made of two
mirrors with R=0.9 with a 1 mm air gap between them. Calculate the
resolving power of this instrument in the wavelength range centred at 500
and 1000 nm.

Example 19.3
Light with wavelength 500 nm passes at normal incidence through the
interferometer made from a 0.1 cm thick glass plane parallel plate (n=1.5)
coated with silver. By gradually titling the plate the periodic change in
intensity is observed from I0 to 0.01 I0.
(i) Explain the origin of this observation
(ii) Calculate the coefficient of finesse of this etalon.
(iii) Calculate the resolving power of this etalon.
(iv) Calculate the angle corresponding to the 10th minimum. Explain how
this can be used to measure the wavelength.
(v) By how much the wavelength should be tuned so that a maximum is
observed at the angle corresponding to the 10th minimum.
 SUMMARY 1.0 γ

Fringe intensity
The resolving power of a Fabry-Perot λ1
interferometer λ
λ mπ F mπR 0.5

= =
∆λ 2 ( 1-R 2 )
This corresponds to the cross-over of the
δ0 δ1
0.0
Phase δ
two fringes in interference patterns of the
two close wavelengths at the half maximum
of intensity

The free spectral range corresponds to the range of

wavelength which could be measured without overlap.

( ∆λ ) fsr = λ / m
The FSR is given by: