A Michelson interferometer is illuminated with a 600-nm light source.How many fringes are observed if one of the mirrors of the interferometer is moved a distance of 200 $\mu$m?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phase difference between the two arms of the Michelson interferometer is given by δ=2πΔx/λ, where Δx is the difference in path lengths between the two arms and λ is the wavelength of the light source. Each fringe corresponds to a path length difference of λ/2, so the number of fringes is given by the ratio Δx/(λ/2) = 4Δx/λ. Plugging in the values, we get 4(200 x 10^-6 m)/(600 x 10^-9 m) = 666.7, which rounds to 667. Therefore, the answer is (C) 667 fringes.

A Michelson Interferometer Is Illuminated with a 600-Nm Light Source μ\muμ

A Michelson Interferometer Is Illuminated with a 600-Nm Light Source $\mu$