Michelson’s Interferometer

By :- Himanshu Jaiswal(Ph-39)
Himanshu Upadhayay(Ph-40)
Kavindra Prajapati(Ph-42)
Who was Michelson ?
Albert Abraham Michelson was an
American physicist born on
December 19, 1852 in Poland. He
was known for his work on the
measurement of the speed of light
and especially of the Michelson –
Morley experiment . In 1907 he
received the Nobel Prize in Physics .
He was the first American to receive
the Nobel Prize in sciences .
 What are Interferometers ?
Interferometers are investigative tools used in many fields of science and
engineering . They are called interferometers because they work by merging
two or more sources of light to create an interference pattern which can be
measured and analyzed ; hence “ interferometers” .
Broadly speaking there are two classes of interferometers :

1. Wavefront – splitting interferometers like the Young’s double slit

interferometer use two or more apertures to select different parts of an
extended wavefront . The radiations from these apertures are combined to
form an interference pattern.

2. Amplitude – splitting interferometers use a partially reflecting mirror

(beamsplitter) to divide an incoming beam of light into two beams. These
beams can rather be recombined using the same beamsplitter or a separate
beam splitter can be used.
 What is Interference ?
If two waves simultaneously propagate through the same region of space,
the resultant electric field at any point in that region is the vector sum of
the electric field of each wave. This is the principle of superposition. (We
assume all waves have the same polarization).
If two beams emanate from a common source, but travel over two different
paths to a detector, the field at the detector will be determined by the
optical path difference, which we will denote by ∆x = x2 − x1.
A related quantity is the phase difference,∆ф , given by
∆ф =(2∏/λ)∆x = k∆x……….. (1) where k is the wave number.

Constructive interference occurs when

∆ф= 2m∏, m = 0, ±1, ±2, ±3………….(2)

Destructive interference occurs when

∆ф= ±(2m + 1)∏ , m = 0, 1, 2, 3…………… (3)
 What is Michelson’s Interferometer ?
The Michelson Interferometer is basically an amplitude
splitting interferometer, first developed by Albert
Michelson in 1881, has proved of vital importance in the
development of modern physics. This versatile instrument
was used to establish experimental evidence for the
development for the validity of the special theory of
relativity, to detect and measure hyperfine structure in
line spectra and to provide a substitute standard for the
meter in terms of wavelengths of light. Michelson himself
pioneered much of this work.
 Aim of our experiment:

1.To determine the wavelength of the yellow ,

Radiation of Na-arc by means of Michelson
interferometer.

2. To determine the wavelength difference

between the two yellow lines of Na-arc.
 Apparatus Required :-
1. Sodium light source
2. Converging lens
3. Interferometer
1. Sodium light source
 We use the sodium lamp to produce an
interference pattern. Since the spectrum
of this light consists primarily of two
closely spaced lines (a doublet), each
wavelength will produce its own set of
fringes. Your goal will be to empirically
determine λ1 and λ2 by measuring the
finely spaced fringes.
 Each of the doublet lines of the sodium
lamp are not monochromatic due to
broadening from pressure effects and
motion of the atoms in the lamp (Doppler
effect). This means the coherence length is
not that large. If the path length difference
is too large, you will not see any fringes.
2. Converging lens
 We use converging lens for obtaining
parallel beams of light .
3. Interferometer
The Michelson interferometer is a device
that produces interference between two
beams of light. A diagram of the apparatus
is shown in Fig. 1. The basic operation of
the interferometer is as follows.
Light from a light source is split into two
parts. One part of the light travels a
different path length than the other. After
traversing these different path lengths,
the two parts of the light are brought
together to interfere with each other. The
interference pattern can be seen through
telescope .
Construction
The schematic of simple Michelson interferometer is
shown in fig. It consists of a beam splitter G 1, a
compensating plate G2 , and two plane mirrors M1 and M2 .
The beam splitter G1 is partially silvered plane glass plate .
The compensating plate G2 is a simple plane parallel glass
plate having the same thickness as G1 . The two plates G1
and G2 are held parallel to each other and are inclined at
an angle of 45o with respect to the mirror M2 . The mirror
M1 is mounted on a carriage and can be moved exactly
parallel to itself with the help of a micrometer screw . The
distance through which the mirror M1 is moved can be
read with the help of a graduated drum attached to the
screw. Displacements of the order of 0.1 µm (1000 A o) can
be easily read . The plane mirrors M1 and M2 can be made
perfectly perpendicular with the help of the fine screws
attached to them . The interference bands are observed in
the view of the telescope T.
Working
Monochromatic light from an extended source S is rendered
parallel by means of a collimation lens L and is made incident
on the beam splitter G1. It is partly reflected at the back
surface of G1 along AC and partly transmitted along AB. The
beam AC travels normally towards the plane mirror M 1 and is
reflected back along the same path and comes out along AT.
The transmitted beam travels the mirror M 2 and is reflected
along the same path. It is reflected along the back surface of
G1 and proceeds along AT. The two beams received along AT
are produced from a single source through division of
amplitude and are hence coherent. The superposition of
these beams leads to interference and produce interference
fringes. From the figure it is clearly seen that a light ray
starting from the source S and under going reflection at the
mirror M1 passes through the glass plate G1 three times. On
the other hand in the absence of the plate G 2 the ray
reflected at M2 travels through the glass plate G 1 only once.
For compensation this path difference, a compensation plate
G2 of the same thickness is inserted into the path AB and is
held exactly parallel to G1. If we look into the instrument
from T, we see mirror M1 and in addition we see a virtual
image M2’ of mirror M2. Depending on the positions of the
mirrors, image M2’ may be in front of, or behind, or exactly
 Why Circular Fringes?

Circular fringes are produced with monochromatic light when the mirror M 1
and M2 are exactly perpendicular to each other . The origin of the circular
fringes can be understand as follows.
If we look into the instrument from T, we see mirror M 1 directly, and in
addition we will see the virtual image M2’ of mirror M2 formed by reflection
in the glass plate G1. It means that one of the interfering beams come from
M1 and the other beam appears to come from the virtual image M 2’. The
situation is similar to an air film enclosed between mirrors M 1 and M2 with
the difference that in case of a real film between two surfaces, multiple
If the two arm of the interferometer are equal in length, image M 2’
coincides with the mirror M1. If M2’ and M1 do not coincide the distance
between them is finite M2’ M1 = d. Now if a light ray comes from point S
and is reflected by both M2’ and M1, the observer will see two virtual
images S1 due to reflection at M2’ and S2 due to reflection at M1. The
virtual images are separated by a distance 2d. If the observer looks into
the system at an angle Θ, the path difference between the two beams
will be 2dcosΘ. The light that comes from M2 and goes to T undergoes
rare to dense reflection and then therefore a ∏ phase change occurs. In
view of this the total path difference between the two beams is given by
∆=2dcosΘ+λ/2
The condition for obtaining brightness ∆=2dcosΘ+λ/2 =mλ, where m =
0,1,2,3……
For a given mirror separation d a given wavelengh λ and order m, angle Θ is
constant. This means that the fringes are of circular shape. They are called
fringes of equal inclination.
In case the mirror M1 coincides with the virtual image M2’ , d=0 the path
difference between the interfering beams will be λ/2. Consequently we obtain
a minimum at the coincidence position and the center of the field will be
dark.
If one of the mirrors is now moved through a distance λ/4, the path difference
changes by λ/2 and therefore a maximum is obtained. By moving the mirror
through another λ/4, a minimum is obtained moving it by another λ/4 again a
maximum is obtained and so on. Therefore a new ring appears in the center of
the field each time the mirror is moved through λ/2 as d increases new rings
appear in the center faster than the rings already present in the periphery;
and the field becomes more crowded with thinner rings . Conversely as d is
made smaller the rings contract and disappear in the centre .
 Procedure
Set up the interferometer on the experimental table. Following components are
fixed on the base plate: A Na-lamp on an adjustable mount, mirror (M 1) whose
tilt is adjustable and can be translated with a screw, mirror (M 2), beam splitter
on tilt adjustable mounts. The Mirror M2 is fitted with a micrometer screw for
precise translation of the mirror with sub-micrometer precision via a lever.

1.Align the lamp so that the beam is parallel with the top of the base. The beam
should strike the centre of the mirrors.

2. The distances of the two mirrors from the beam splitter is made equal as
closely as possible. A translational screw behind the mirror is used for this.

3. Adjust the angle of the beam splitter as needed so that the reflected beam
hits the fixed mirror M1 near its centre.
4. There should now be two beams of light reaching the screen
via two paths; one comes from the mirror M1 and the other from
the mirror M2. Adjust the angle of the mirrors M1 or M2. such that
the two beams overlap on the screen.

5. The fringes initially will be very close, too many and possibly
curved, oriented in arbitrary direction. The tilt screws behind the
mirrors can be used to reduce the number and get circular
fringes. The number of circular fringes can be increased by
increasing the path difference between the two arms.

6. The translation screw on the back of the mirror is used to vary

the path difference between the two beams.
Measurement of wavelength
Measurement of difference in wavelength
 Determination of wavelength :-
S. No. of fringes moving Linear Scale Circular Scale Circular Scale Total = Distance
no. across the field of view reading Reading I Reading II LSR +CSR I + travelled by
(cm) (10 µm ) (0.1µm) CSR II mirror M1 for
250 fringes
(µm)
1. 0
2. 50
3. 100 D1
4. 150 D2
5. 200 D3
6. 250 D4
7. 300 D5
8. 350 D6
9. 400
10. 450
11. 500
 Determination of difference in wavelength
S.No. Position of minima Linear Scale Circular Scale Circular Scale Total = Distance
Reading Reading I Reading II LSR + CSR I + travelled by
(cm) (10m) (0.1m) CSR II mirror M1 for
5 minima
(µm)
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3 L1
4. 4 L2
5. 5 L3
6. 6 L4
7. 7 L5
8. 8
9. 9
10. 10
Calculations :-
1. d = mean for 250 fringes = D1 + D2 + D3 + D4 + D5 + D6
6
N = order (250)

λ(wavelength) = 2d
N

2. l = mean for 5 minima = L1 + L2 + L3 + L4 + L5

5
N = order (5)

∆λ(difference in wavelength) = λ2
2(l/N)
 Precautions :-
1.The lens should be so adjusted that four images of the source
hole form only one complete circle appear in the field view .

2. Readings should be taken only in one direction to avoid backlash

error .

3. Both the glass plate should be parallel to each other .

Thanxxx……….

A presentation by :
Himanshu Jaiswal (Ph-39)
Himanshu Upadhyay(Ph-40)
Kavindra Prajapati (Ph-42)

Submitted to :
Prof. Anchal Srivastava
Department of Physics
Institute of Science
Banaras Hindu University