6D40.55 - Fabry - Perot Interferometry

Code Number:
6D40.55
Demo Title:
Fabry - Perot Interferometry
Condition:
Excellent
Principle:
Interference of Light
Area of Study:
Optics
Equipment:
Laser (2 to 5 mw.), Beam Expander, Optics Rail, Screen, and Fabry - Perot Unit.
Procedure:

The Fabry - Perot unit is delicate in several areas. FIRST, the partially silvered mirrors are very delicate so be very careful when adjusting and cleaning. SECOND, the adjustment used to align the mirrors is very sensitive, BE GENTLE!! In other words the unit should be handled with the utmost care. When the partially silvered mirrors are perfectly parallel you will get a very nice circular interference pattern. This is due to the reflecting of some of the laser light between the two mirrors.

References:
  • Jamie A. Boyd, Thierry Lahaye, "A Basic Introduction to Ultrastable Optical Cavities for Laser Stabilization", AJP, Vol. 92, #1, Jan. 2024, p. 50.
  • Colin D. Fletcher, Chad Orzel, "Construction and Calibration of a Low Cost Fabry-Perot Interferometer for Spectroscopy Experiments", AJP, Vol. 73, # 12, Dec. 2005, p. 1135.
  • T. T. Grove, "A Low-Cost Scanning Fabry-Perot Cavity for Laser Experiments", AJP, Vol. 71, # 2, Feb. 2003, p. 184.
  • Joseph F. Mulligan, "Who were Fabry and Perot?", AJP, Vol. 66, #9, Sep. 1998, p. 797.
  • Benjamin S. Perkalskis and J. Reuben Freeman, "Fabry-Perot Interferometers for Lecture Demonstrations and Laboratories", AJP, Vol. 64, #9, Sep. 1996, p. 1210.
  • R. A. Boyd, J. L. Bliss, K. G. Libbrecht, "Teaching Physics with 670 nm Diode Lasers - Experiments with Fabry - Perot Cavities", AJP, Vol. 9, Sept. 1996, p. 1109.
  • Joseph C. Amato, Roger E. Williams, and Hugh Helm, "An Inexpensive, Easy to Build Fabry-Perot Interferometer and its Use in the Introductory Laboratory", AJP, Vol. 59, #11, Nov. 1991, p. 992.
  • Chandrasekhar Roychoudhuri, "Demonstrations Using A Fabry-Perot. I. Multiple-Slit Interference", AJP, Vol. 43, # 12, Dec. 1975, p. 1054.
  • Chandrasekhar Roychoudhuri, Robert H. Noble,  "Demonstrations Using A Fabry-Perot. II. Laser Modes Display", AJP, Vol. 43, # 12, Dec. 1975, p. 1057.
  • "Inexpensive Fabry-Perot Interferometer", AJP, Vol. 35, # 3, March 1967, p.xxii.
  • Uno Ingard and Hoshea Lewenstein, "Flexible-Membrane Fabry-Perot Interferometer", AJP, Vol. 35, # 3, March 1967, p. 285.
  • A. P. French and J. Smith, "Low-Cost Fabry-Perot Interferometers", AJP, 33, # 7, July 1965, p. 532.
  • F. M. Phelps, III, "Comments on "Low-Cost Fabry-Perot Interferometers", AJP, 33, # 12, Dec. 1965, p. 1088.
  • F. M. Phelps, III, "Comments on "Construction and Use of a Fabry-Perot Interferometers", AJP, 33, # 12, Dec. 1965, p. 1088.
  • Wallace A. Hilton, "Construction and Use of a Fabry-Perot Interferometer", AJP, 30, #10, Oct. 1962, p. 724.
  • Wallace A. Hilton, "I-10", Experiments in Optical Physics, p. 34.
  • Wallace A. Hilton, "I-8", Experiments in Optical Physics, p. 28.
  • T. Kallard, "The Fabry - Perot Interferometer", Exploring Laser Light, p. 155.
  • "Inexpensive Fabry-Perot Interferometer", Apparatus Notes July 1965-December 1972, p. 36.
  • John H. Moore, Christopher C. Davis, Michael A. Coplan,  "Fabry-Perot Interferometers and Etalons",  Building Scientific Apparatus 2ndEdition.  p. 242 - 251.
  • C. Harvey Palmer, "Experiment B11: Demonstration of Brewster's Bands, Haidinger's Bands and Fabry-Perot Bands",  Optics - Experiments and Demonstrations, John Hopkins Press, 1962.




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