THE COMPENSATION OF TWO-BEAM INTERFEROMETERS.
Abstract
For a two-beam interferometer, the variations of intensity in the plane of observation are given by the modulation function, which is equal to the mutual coherence function for the radiation arriving by the two separate beams. When this function is expressed in its most general form, it is found to depend on the spatial and spectral distributions of the light from the source, on any differences in the optical paths followed by the two beams, and on the states of polarization of the two beams. Hence, an interferometer can be used to measure any one of these quantities provided its influence can be separated from that of any qualtities. This separation of effects is basic to the techniques of interferometry and leads to the idea of compensation: the design of an interferometer that is insensitive to one or more of the quantities listed above. Examples are given of the compensation of interferometers for the spatial and spectral properties of the source and also for the state of polarization of the light. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0617255
Entities
People
- W. H. Steel
Organizations
- Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories