Optical Cage System Application: Michelson Interferometer

What is a Michelson Interferometer?

A Michelson Interferometer is a simple interfermetric design involving a coherent light source, beamsplitter, and two mirrors. The design first splits the coherent source using the beamsplitter. The two beams then travel slightly different distances before reflecting off the mirrors and returning into the beamsplitter, where the two beams then recombine. If the difference between the two beams’ path lengths is less than the coherence length of the source, then interference fringes will be generated. Because the coherence length of a source can be extremely short, precision components and alignment are crucial, but often difficult to achieve.

Why TECHSPEC® Optical Cage System?

The TECHSPEC® Optical Cage System is an ideal solution for creating a Michelson Interferometer. Because the cage system rods support the basic structure, the only additional alignment needed is correcting the tip-tilt of the optics, and adjusting the difference in distance between the two mirrors and the beamsplitter. The TECHSPEC® Optical Cage System allows for the easy adjustment of all parameters, whether it is the use of a linear micrometer for adjusting the path length difference, or a three knob tip-tilt mount to align the mirrors. Building a similar interferometer from standard optical mounting components would be cumbersome and require significantly more parts. The TECHSPEC® Optical Cage System offers a compact, user friendly solution.

View Figure 1 for a simple animation of a Michelson Interferometer being assembled with TECHSPEC® Optical Cage System components. Use Table 1 to purchase the components shown in Figure 1. 

View Complete Assembly Instructions:

View Complete Assembly Instructions (PDF 910 KB)