PPT Slide
How does the Michelson interferometer work?
- Unlike the dispersive spectrometer, all frequencies from the source are measured at one time. This has major advantages as we shall see later..
- Because of the interference between the light reflecting from the stationary mirror, and that from the moving mirror, the energy observed by the detector shows an unusual pattern over time. This is called an interferogram:
The maximum occurs when the moving mirror is at he same distance as the stationary mirror : we get constructive interference.