WOLFRAM|DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECT

Michelson Interferometer and Haidinger Fringes

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wavelength (nm)
400
450
500
550
600
650
700
position of mobile mirror (mm)
-0.25
-0.15
-0.05
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
focal length of imaging lens (cm)
10
20
30
40
The Michelson interferometer contains two perpendicular plane mirrors, which reflect monochromatic light into a beam splitter (a half-silvered mirror). The two reflected rays are then combined through an imaging lens to produce an interference pattern (Haidinger fringes) on a screen.
You can select the wavelength of the light, the focal length of the lens, and the position of the mobile mirror; 0 means that the distances of the two arms of the interferometer are equal, so that there are no interference fringes.