Circular fringes are produced in michelson interferometer if the two mirrors m1 and m2 are perpendicular to each other, that is, if the mirror m1 is parallel to the virtual mirror m0 2 which is the image of m2. Light from a source unit n a mercury or sodium lamp, in this experiment, passing. The michelson interferometer is the best known example of a class of interferometers that. Michelson interferometry and measurement of the sodium doublet. The main features of the interferometer are shown schematically in figure 1. The procedure depended on a michelson interferometer, a sensitive optical device that compares the optical path lengths for light moving in two mutually perpendicular. The experiment was conducted by observing the fringe shift when exposed to various. Schematic illustration of a michelson interferometer. Pdf the sensor device is required to monitor harmful gases in the environments and industries.
The purpose of the michelson interferometer experiment is to produce interference fringes by splitting a beam of light. When set up correctly the michelson interferometer. M1 and m2 are two plane mirrors silvered on the front surfaces. In the beck apparatus, m2 of the michelson optics is mounted on a carriage that is driven by a micrometer. Interference pattern now occupy the position of the former minima. If you have a pair of polarizers, you can also investigate the polarization of your source. The michelsonmorley experiment was a scientific experiment to find the presence and properties of a substance called aether, a substance believed to fill empty space.
The schematic of michelson interferometer is shown in fig. Special and general relativity notes on the michelson. We analyze the michelsonmorley experiment in a reference frame moving with constant proper acceleration. In this experiment, youll use the interferometer to measure the wavelength of your light source. Experiment 4 the michelson interferometer 4 3 experiment in the following experiments, you will calibrate the movement of m 1 with the hene laser and use the interferometer to accurately measure. According to special relativity, the lorentz contraction of one arm in michelson experiments is 33 in ligo experiment, the length change of arm is about 10. Investigation of michelson interferometer for volatile organic compound sensor. Half of the light is sent along path b towards the movable mirror and the other half is sent down path a. Pdf investigation of michelson interferometer for volatile organic. Download michelson interferometer study the michelson interferometer with this software. Using a beam splitter, a light source is split into two arms. Some of the light sources suitable for the michelson interferometer are a sodium flame or a mercury arc.
Ligo experiments cannot detect gravitational waves by. Michelson interferometer definition and applications. Among other things, it is a common path interferometer, whereas michelsons is a double path interferometer. The michelson interferometer equipment preparation goals. Record of experiment actual notes from lab notebook shown on previous 4 pages. Special and general relativity notes on the michelsonmorley interferometer how it works a monochromatic light wave has one frequency or wavelength. A beam of light is split by a silvered plate, one on the half beams.
Michelson interferometer is a tool to produce interference between two beams of light. Introduction the michelson interferometer is the fundamental form of a large variety of twobeam interferometer. The michelsonmorley experiment was an attempt to detect the existence of the luminiferous aether, a supposed medium permeating space that was thought to be the carrier of light waves. Physics 263 experiment 8 michelson interferometer 1 introduction. The michelson interferometer is a common configuration for optical interferometry and was invented by albert abraham michelson. When light from the laser encounters the beam splitter it is divided in half. Michelson interferometer is best known for its use in the michelsonmorley experiment, which disproved the existence of the luminiferous ether and paved the way to the development of the theory of. Any difference in optical path traveled by the two beams leads to a. Measurement of the wavelength of hene laser and na. If you use a small source bulb instead, a groundglass diffusing screen in front of the source will do the. Enjoy this simple animation of a michelson interferometer being assembled with.
The michelson interferometer is the best known of a class of mirrored interferometers known as amplitudesplitting interferometers. Albert abraham michelson ffrs hfrse december 19, 1852 may 9, 1931 was an american physicist known for his work on measuring the speed of light and especially for the michelsonmorley. In 1864 james clerk maxwell showed that light is an electromagnetic. Experiment 4 the michelson interferometer 2 figure 1. It is the most common design for optical interferometry and was invented by albert abraham michelson. A sagnac interferometer is not a modified michelson apparatus.
In this lab we will use a michelson interferometer to measure a the small difference in wavelength between two closely spaced spectral lines of a sodium lamp. Themichelsoninterferometer simon fraser university. Interestingly, we find an expected fringe shift which. Construction and working of michelson interferometer, physics. Phy 4264l michelson interferometer optics lab 310 figure 2. The michelson interferometer uses light interference to measure distances in units of the wavelength of light from a particular source.
Describe the construction and working of michelson interferometer. This diagram is a retouched picture, which means that it has been digitally altered from its original version. A michelson interferometer is a device that takes a beam of light, splits it into two separate beams, and then recombines them into a single beam again. The active surfaces of the optical components must never be touched with the. Michelsonmorley experiment simple english wikipedia. Alignment of michelsons interferometer using hene laser to observe concentric circular fringes. Michelson interferometer lab report robert clancy 04329741 november 9, 2005 abstract in this experiment the famous michelson interferometer and some of its uses are investigated. Reviewing michelson interferometer experiment and measuring the speed of starlight. Michelson won the 1907 nobel prize in physics for his optical precision instruments and the spectroscopic and metrological investigations carried out with their aid. The objective of this experiment is to demonstrate the interference pattern obtained from. In this experiment, you will use a michelson interferometer made by r. Michelson designed and built an interferometer using a similar principle. The michelson interferometer in 1881, 78 years after young introduced his twoslit experiment, a. In metrology g plays a crucial role in the socalled watt balance experiment, aiming at a new definition of the kilogram 1.
If m 2 is moved an additional onequarter wavelength closer to the. Data analysis calibration with hene laser below is a plot of the data taken with the hene laser light injected into. Michelsons interferometer consists of one semitransparent mirror and two mirrors. For if the tangent of the angle of aberration is the ratio of the velocity of the earth to the. Animation of michelson interferometer setup youtube. The michelson interferometer employs a division of amplitude scheme. Please refer to the following links for a detailed answer. Physics assignment help, construction and working of michelson interferometer, q.
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