Michelson Interferometer

Source

Lens
Michelson interferometer consists of two highly polished mirrors M1 and M2 and two
glass plates A and B parallel to each other. The rear side of the glass plate A is half
silvered so that light coming from a monochromatic source is equally reflected and
transmitted by it. Light from the source passes through the lens falls on the plate A.
The lens makes the beam parallel. The plate A is inclined at an angle 45°. About half
of the incident beam is reflected by the plate A and goes towards M2 and rest half
goes to M1. Reflected and transmitted beams are perpendicular to each other. From
M1 and M2, light beams are reflected back and they return to A. The beam reflected
back by M1 is again rfelected by the glass plate A and goes to the eye. The beam
reflected from M2 is transmitted through A and goes to the eye. The beam from M2
has to pass twice the glass plate A. So, to compensate for the path, the plate B is used
between mirror M1 and A. Then, the path of two rays after coming to the eye is same.
The mirror M2 is fixed on a carriage and can be moved with help of a handle. The
distance through which the mirror M2 is moved can be read from a scale. The planes
of M1 amd M2 can be made perfectly perpendicular with the help of a screws attached
to them. The compensating plate is a necessity for white light fringes but can be
dispensed with, while using monochromatic light.

If M1 and M2 are perfectly perpendicular, the observer’s eye will see the images of
M1 and M2 through A. There will be an air film between the two images and the
distance of the film can be varied by moving M2 by the handle. The fringes will be
perfectly circular. If the path travelled by the two rays is exactly the same, the filed
of view will be completely dark. If M1 and M2 are inclined, the enclosed air film will
be wedge-shaped and straight line fringes will be observed.

When M2 is moved away or towards plate A by the help of a handle, the fringes cross
𝜆
the center of the field of view of the eye. If M2 is moved through a distance , one
2

fringe will cross the field of view

(i) Circular fringes: Circular fringes are produced with monochromatic light
when M1 and M2 are exactly perpendicular to each other.

M2
𝑴´𝟏

If we look the instrument by the eye we will see mirror M2 directly and in
addition, we will see the virtual image 𝑀1´ of M1 formed by reflection in the glass
plate A. It means that one of the interfering beams come from M1 and the other
beam appears to come from the virtual image 𝑀1´ . The situation is similar to an
air film enclosed between mirrors M2 and 𝑀1´ . If the two arms of the
interferometer are equal in length, image 𝑀1´ coincides with M2. If M2 and 𝑀1´ do
not coincide, the distance between them is finite. Let the finite distance M2𝑀1´ is
d. If the observer looks into the system at an angle 𝜃, then the path difference
between two beams is 2𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃. However, the light that comes from M1 and goes
to the eye undergoes rare-to-dense reflection and therfore a π-phase change
occurs. In this case, a total path difference will be
 𝜆
∆= 2𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 +
2

The condition of bright fringe is

𝜆
2𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + = 𝑛𝜆 Where n=0, 1, 2 ………..
2

For a given d, wavelength 𝜆 and order n, 𝜃 is constant. This means that the fringes
are of circular shape.

These circular frimges which are due to interference with a phase difference
determined by the inclination 𝜃 are as fringes of equal inclination or Haidinger’s
fringes. When M2 and 𝑀1´ coincide, the path difference is zero and the field of
view is perfectly dark as shown.

When M2 is nearer the eye than 𝑀1´ , the fringes are circular as shown. When M2
is farther from eye than 𝑀1´ , the fringes are circular as shown.

(ii) Localized fringes: When M2 and 𝑀1´ are inclined, the air film is wedge-
shaped and straight line fringes are observed.

𝑴´𝟏
𝑴´𝟏
M2
M2
𝑴´𝟏 M2
If one of the mirrors is moved the fringes move across the field. The fringes can be
counted as they pass a refrrence mark. If n fringes move across the field of view
when M2 moves through a distance d, then

𝜆
𝑑=𝑛
2

2𝑑
Or, 𝜆=
𝑛

The shape of the fringes observed for various values of the path difference are shown
above. Fringes are curved and convex towards edge of the of the wedge.

(iii) White light fringes: With white light, the fringes are observed only when
the path difference is small. The different colours overlap on each other
and only the first few coloured fringes are visivle. White light fringes are
useful for the determination of zero path difference, especially in the
standardisation of the meter.

Applications of Michelson Interferometer

Michelson interferometer can be used to deter mine (i) mthe wavelength of a given
monochromatic source of light, (ii) the difference between the two neighboring
wavelength, (iii) refractive index and thickness of various thin transparaent materials
and (iv) for the measurement of the standard meter in terms of the wavelength of
light.

(i) Determination of wavelength of monochromatic light

The mirrors M1 and M2 are adjusted so that circular fringes are formed. If M1 and
M2 are equdistant from A, the field of view will be perfectly dark. The mirror M1
 is fixed and M2 is moved with a handle and the number of fringes that cross the
field of view is counted.

Suppose the wavelength of ligh is 𝜆, the distance through which the M2 is moved
is d, and the number of fringes that cross the center of the field of view is n and
𝜃 is very small. Then, from

2𝑑 = 𝑛𝜆

𝜆 can be determined.

(ii) Detremination of the difference in wavelength between two neighboring

There are two spectral lines D1 and D2 of sodium light. They are very near to each
other and the difference in their wavelength is small. Suppose the of wavelength of
D1 line is 𝜆1 and the wavelength of D2 line is 𝜆2 . For these two wavelengths, two
sets of fringes are observed. By adjusting the position of M2, we get a position when
the fringes are very bright. In this case, the bright fringe of 𝜆1 coincide with the
bright fringe of 𝜆2 . When M2 is moved through a certain distance, the bright fring
due to one set will coincide with the dark fringe due to other set and no fringe will
be seen in this case. But by moving M2, a position is reached when bright fringe of
one set falls on the bright fringe of the other and the fringes are distinct. This is
possible when nth order of longer wavelength coincides with (n+1)th order of shorter
wavelength.

Let n1 and n2 be the changes in the order at the center of the field when M2 is moved
through a distance d between two consecutive positions of maximum distinctness of
the fringes. Now,
 2𝑑 = 𝑛1 𝜆1 = 𝑛2 𝜆2

If 𝜆1 is greater than 𝜆2 , then

𝑛2 = 𝑛1 + 1

So, 2𝑑 = 𝑛1 𝜆1 = (𝑛1 + 1)𝜆2

Or, 𝑛1 𝜆1 = (𝑛1 + 1)𝜆2

𝜆2
Or, 𝑛1 =
𝜆1 −𝜆2

Substituting the value of 𝑛1 , we get

𝜆1 𝜆2
2𝑑 =
𝜆1 −𝜆2

𝜆1 𝜆2
So, 𝜆1 − 𝜆2 =
2𝑑

Problem 1: In a Michelson interferometer 200 fringes cross the field of view when
the moveable mirror is displaced through a distance of 0.05896 mm. Calculate the
wavelength of the monochromatic light used.

Solution: In a Michelson interferometer,

2𝑑 = 𝑛𝜆

Here, n=200, d=0.05896 mm=0.005896 cm, 𝜆=?

2𝑑 2×0.005896
𝜆= = = 5896 Å
𝑛 200
Problem 2: Calculate the distance between the two successive positions of a
moveable mirror of a Michelson’s interferometer giving the best fringes in the case
of sodium having lines of wavelength 5890 Å and 5896 Å.

Solution: Here, 𝜆1 =5896 Å=5896×10‒8 cm, 𝜆2 =5890 Å=5890×10‒8 cm, 𝜆1 − 𝜆2 =6

𝜆1 𝜆2
Now, 2𝑑 =
𝜆1 −𝜆2

𝜆1 𝜆2 5896×10−8 ×5890×10−8
Or, 𝑑= = =0.02894 cm
2(𝜆1 −𝜆2 ) 2×6×10−8