MICHELSON INTERFEROMETER

AIM
To show the working of a michelson interferometer.

FORMULA USED/PRINCIPLE OF WORKING

The Michelson Interferometer is a highly accurate device that operates on the

division of interference amplitude class.
Using two highly reflecting mirrors and a 50% polished beam splitter, light from an
extended source is split along two arms of the interferometer and then recombined to
generate an interference pattern.
Various interferometer settings can produce distinct interference fringe types, such
as fringes with similar width or inclination, which can then be applied to particular
measuring tasks.

Formation of fringes ➖
Δ = 2dcos(θ);
For Minima:-
2dcos(θ) = nλ;
For Maxima:-
2dcos(θ) = (2n+1)λ/2;

Circular Fringes:-
For dark rings:
2dcosθ = nλ;

Radius of Circular Fringe:-

Central dark fringe:-
2d = nλ

THEORY

The Michelson interferometer is an optical instrument used to measure small

differences in the wavelength of light, study interference phenomena, and determine
precise measurements of distances. It consists of several key components, including
a beam splitter, typically a half-silvered mirror, which splits an incoming light beam
into two separate paths. The light travels down each of these paths, reflects off
mirrors, and then recombines at the beam splitter. This recombination creates an
interference pattern that can be observed and analyzed.The interference patterns so
produced is very sensitive to micron-level optical path difference between two arms
of the interferometer and hence this equipment can be used as a precise measuring
tool.
The resulting pattern is highly sensitive to minute changes in the path length of one
of the arms, making the Michelson interferometer a valuable tool in fields such as
optics, spectroscopy, and precision measurements.

In Michelson interferometry, three types of fringes are observed: circular fringes, localized
fringes, and white light fringes.

Circular fringes occur when mirrors are nearly perpendicular, forming a pattern of concentric
circles. These result from the interference of parallel rays reflected from the mirrors, with the
relationship (2d = m\lambda), where (d) is the mirror separation, (m) is the fringe order, and
(lambda) is the wavelength.
Localized fringes emerge when mirrors deviate from perfect parallelism, creating semi-
circular patterns. The variation in the thickness of the air wedge between mirrors contributes
to the path difference. The association between large circular fringes and parallel localized
fringes becomes crucial in locating white light fringes.
White light fringes are challenging to observe and appear only within a limited path
difference range. Using monochromatic light to approximate their location, one can transition
to white light. The interference of multiple wavelengths causes color dispersion, and the
fringes are visible over a narrow range of path differences. Careful micrometer adjustments
are necessary to reveal these fringes gradually. The complexity of these fringe patterns in
Michelson interferometry highlights the delicate interplay between mirror geometry and light
characteristics.
APPLICATIONS OF MICHELSON INTERFEROMETER

1. Determination of Wavelength of Incident light

Where,
Λ- Wavelength of source
d-Distance by which the mirror is moved
m- No. of fringes that shift when mirror is moved

2.Determination of refractive index or thickness of a plate

Place the specified plate in the path of a beam that interferes, adding an additional
2(μ-1)t optical path difference.
This causes the fringes to shift. Now, move the movable mirror until the fringes
return to position. If this
displacement is x then
Where,
μ-Refractive index
t-thickness of plate
M,n- order of fringes
LIGO AND INTERFEROMETERS
The Michelson interferometer plays a pivotal role in the Laser Interferometer
Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), a groundbreaking scientific experiment
designed to detect gravitational waves. LIGO consists of two massive
interferometers, each with two perpendicular arms that are several kilometers long.
When a gravitational wave passes through Earth, it distorts the fabric of spacetime,
causing minuscule changes in the arm lengths. The Michelson interferometer
precisely measures these changes by detecting alterations in the interference
patterns of laser beams traveling along the arms. This innovative technology allows
LIGO to detect gravitational waves originating from cataclysmic events in the
cosmos, such as merging black holes or neutron stars, providing invaluable insights
into the fundamental nature of the universe and confirming the predictions of
Einstein's theory of general relativity.