Interactive Interferometry Demo
This application simulates a small Michelson interferometer very much like one of our laboratory setups. The goal is to align all the mirrors on the table until you see a regular pattern of dark and light bands ("fringes") appear on the monitor in the lower left corner.
It is probably a good idea to read through all the instructions below before you start the demo. When you are done, move the lamp to a new position and repeat the process. After several rounds you will see how the delay line setting changes as you change the angle to the lamp.
Once you know the relation between the angle to the lamp and the delay line setting, you can measure the location of the lamp by reading the delay line setting. This is how astronomers use interferometers to determine the exact location of a star on the sky.
The demo requires requires a Shockwave plug-in for your browser. If you don't have this software, the link to the demo will take you to the Macromedia site for a free download.
If you are familiar with the instruction, you can go directly to demo.
Instructions and Preview
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