What is Michelson: Definition and 123 Discussions

Albert Abraham Michelson FFRS HFRSE (December 19, 1852 – May 9, 1931) was an American physicist known for his work on measuring the speed of light and especially for the Michelson–Morley experiment. In 1907 he received the Nobel Prize in Physics, becoming the first American to win the Nobel Prize in a science. He was the founder and the first head of the physics department of the University of Chicago.

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  1. T

    Michelson and morley interposition of the experiment

    Michelson and Morley conducted their famous aether wind experiment and then after finding their first result they interposed the experiment and started it all over again. Why would they do this?
  2. P

    Quick Michelson and Moorley question

    This may be hard to express without a diagram. For the beam that split left and came back towards the half silvered mirror perpendicular to the aether wind, shouldn't it be solved that way vectorially? My textbook has the speed of light (c) as the hypotenuse. Which has screwed me over in the way...
  3. S

    Exploring Interference Patterns: Building and Testing a Michelson Interferometer

    I would like an outside opinion on something I've been thinking about lately. If one of the outer mirrors on a Michelson interferometer was to be misaligned by a small angle of theta, what would be the shape of the interference pattern in the detector plane? What would happen to this pattern as...
  4. P

    Thermal expansion (and the Michelson Morley experiment)

    Homework Statement (B) http://imgur.com/VL4aG although I showed the rest of the problem for context if needed Homework Equations ΔL=αLΔT The Attempt at a Solution I'm a little confused by the wording of the problem. When we find the shift in ΔN, are we actually finding Δ(ΔN)...
  5. A

    Michelson Morley experiment and heliocentrism

    Hello, I just heard a guy talking about the Michelson-Morley experiment as evidence that the Earth is still. It is true that the MM experiment basically showed that the Earth was at rest with respect to "the ether" (but we know that the Earth moves around the sun, so the notion of ether...
  6. cepheid

    Michelson and Energy Conservation

    I'm wondering about the Michelson interferometer and energy conservation. It seems like if one arm has an optical path difference that results in a pi phase shift relative to the other arm, then there will be complete destructive interference at the output port. Talking to some people, I gather...
  7. M

    Fringe shifts - Michelson Morely Experiment

    I would love to get my head around this; I did a quick search for this, but only came across one thread with fringe shift in the title (in the first 5 pages of the search results). The OP will probably sound like me "thinking out loud", because it largely will be. I'm not entirely sure of...
  8. D

    Michelson Interferometer and mirror

    Consider a Michelson interferometer with semi-transparent mirror with a reflection coefficient for the intensity, R and transmission of T=1-R. The mirror does not absorb anything. Calculate the intensities of the light in the two outputs as a function of delta_x = x_2-x_1 which is the...
  9. C

    PGRE | Michelson Interferometer Equation

    Homework Statement I am having trouble understanding how I would apply the Michelson Interferometer equation to a problem on the PGRE. Here is a link to a diagram displaying the interferometer as well as the equation which is very similar to the way the topic is shown in my REA pgre book...
  10. S

    Why are Localized Fringes Curved in a Michelson Interferometer Experiment?

    hi everyone, can anyone explain why localised fringes are curved in michelson interferometer experiment with a monochromatic light used, when the mirrors are held not exactly perpendicular to each other and there is wedge formation.
  11. H

    Michelson Morley Experiment for Arbitrary Angle

    Homework Statement The ether wind theory of the Michelson-Morley experiment is discussed in the text for the special case where the arms of the interferometer are parallel and perpendicular to the wind. Consider the general case for an angular setting θ. Prove that, for equal arms of length L...
  12. C

    Michelson Interferometer - Fringe Shape

    Hi all Edit: The reflecting side is the right side of left slab Please look at the pic above ... The light from source splits at left slab and goes in 2 directions and come back to interfere. From figure, it is obvious that path diff. in slabs for both rays is 0 and only path diff...
  13. A

    Could the Michelson & Morley Experiment Have Used Electrons Instead of Light?

    Michelson & morley experiment... hi there... We say that the speed of light is constant when seen from any frame of refrence because the ratio of length and time measured from moving and rest frame is same. Also by Lorentz transformation L= L1 $ (L1 and T1 are in the moving frame and $...
  14. Q

    What is the speed of light in a Michelson interferometer?

    can someone explain to me the speed of light to the mirror and back from the mirror before reaching the telescope ?? please
  15. H

    Help Deriving Intensity Equation for Optical Michelson Interferometer

    Homework Statement I am currently studying the optical Michelson Interferometer and I am in need of help with a derivation. The equation I need to derive is that for the intensity of the light arriving at the viewing point. The equation is given below.Homework Equations I(Δ)=I/2 +...
  16. R

    Michelson Interferometer homework

    Homework Statement 1. A Michelson interferometer is operated in a vacuum, using monochromatic light of wavelength 589 nm. The interferometer is set up so that the distances between the moving mirror and the beam splitter and the fixed mirror and the beam splitter are equal. A...
  17. B

    Michelson Morley Exp. Phase Difference Question

    Homework Statement The problem I am misunderstanding begins with a reference to a previous problem and example. Let me begin to ask my question by showing my work for the previous problem and describe the example in reference. (reference problem) - Ch.1, #13. Consider a reference frame...
  18. M

    Question on Michelson Morley experiment and length contraction

    I'm a lay person who is interested in developing a better understanding of science in general, as well as specific theories. I'm just wondering if someone would be able to help me understand how Length contraction explains the null set of the Michelson Morley experiment? Hopefully this...
  19. A

    Advances in michelson morley interferometer

    hello, i am curious to know more about advancements that has happened to the M-m experiment, i am studying relativity and recently saw a http://youtu.be/7T0d7o8X2-E" of a modified interferometer. anyone knows a book/blog/file that talks purely about this. thanks.
  20. H

    Measure the length of a material with Michelson interferometer

    Homework Statement Suppose you know the wavelength of light passing through a Michelson interferometer with high accuracy. Describe how you could use the interferometer to measure the length of a small piece of material. 2. The attempt at a solution - Sandwich the piece of material behind...
  21. zimo

    Michelson Interferometer question

    Homework Statement Express the intensity from a beam that crosses a Michelson Interferometer that its beam splitter transfers 1/3 and reflects 2/3. Homework Equations N/A The Attempt at a Solution Would like to have a hint...
  22. Z

    Cause of interference pattern in the Michelson Interferometer.

    The books say that interference happens basically between the light waves from the two mirrors. But it seems to me that the path difference between the pairs remains constant for all the waves (as long as both the mirrors are perpendicular to each other). So why do circular rings form? How does...
  23. E

    Double-Slit Experiment and Michelson Interferometer

    If, in the double-slit experiment, individual photons only interfere with themselves, as apparently happens when the stream of photons is slowed down to "one at a time", does the same rule or phenomenon apply to the various Michelson interferometer experiments? I think it was in Dirac’s...
  24. M

    Resolution of a Michelson interferometer

    How to find the resolution of a Michelson interferometer ?
  25. G

    Michelson Interferometer, circle fringes

    Hello guys! Lets say we have a laser beam and we send it to a michelson interferometer. Why the beam pattern at the screen gives circles and not lines or something else? Thanks P.S. see for instance http://techtv.mit.edu/collections/physicsdemos/videos/9823-michelson-interferometer
  26. T

    Michelson Interferometer, Optics Derivation

    Homework Statement Derive the exact expression for the index of refraction n of a glass plate as a function of the fringe shift m, the plate thickness t and the angle of deflection of the plate (hint: find the optical path difference for an incident vs a tilted incident beam, and solve for...
  27. S

    What is the Relationship Between Albert Michelson and Einstein?

    I need some help trying to figure out the relationship between Albert michelson and einstein. Basically it is called the Einstein number project and we have to figure out how many numbers (aka people) it took for michelson to get to einstein. For Example: (This Einstein number is 4) Arthur...
  28. K

    Michelson interferometer and Doppler effect

    Homework Statement Hello, I'm working on an experiment that involves a Michelson interferometer and doppler effect. Here is the description of the apparatus. Michelson interferometer is set up with one moving arm and microwave is transmitted and received. With the beam splitter splitting...
  29. M

    Michelson and Morley Aether Experiment

    Homework Statement Well. the statement is explain the Aether Experiment.Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution What i gather is that MM threw a light source into a thing to split the light up and had to mirrors to reflect the light into the telescope. One going against and one going...
  30. J

    Aligning a Michelson interferometer

    Are there any tricks for getting the two arms of a Michelson interferometer exactly equal, if all I have is a CW HeNe laser to align? The real experiment will be using the interferometer on short pulses, so I will only see interference when the path lengths are equal to within 30 microns or so...
  31. I

    Intensities from the Michelson Beamsplitter

    (A laser monochromatic laser is shone in from the left, that's E_{in}.) [PLAIN]http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/6184/beamsplitter.png In the lecture notes, it says that: E_{out1}=rE_2+tE_1, where E_1=-rE_{in}e^{i\phi} and E_2=tE_{in}e^{i\phi} I don't really understand the signs...
  32. A

    Michelson interferometer - maxima and minima

    URGENT! michelson interferometer - maxima and minima Homework Statement If a wave is reflected at a surface of a plate with higher refractive index (eg. At air glass or air-metal) it suffers a λ/2 phase change. Show that for the interferometer, maxima will occur for 2dcosθ = (n+1/2)λ and...
  33. A

    What was the motive of michelson morley experiment

    what was the real motive of MM experiment to measure the speed of light or to measure the orbital speed (or speed of ether) of Earth with respect to stationary ether? plss anyone reply
  34. R

    In michelson interferometer, does amplitude of of two waves is

    in michelson interferometer, does amplitude of of two waves is divided. i mean one wave say from fixed mirror has amplitue say A and the wave from moving mirror has amplitude say 0.8A? can we call this coherent source?
  35. L

    Michelson morley exp and rotating 90 degrees

    Homework Statement Ok, I was able to figure out the difference in time for the michelson morley experiment and hence the fringe shift is B^2*L/wavelength. What i can't understand is why after shifting the experiment 90 degrees the fringe shift is supposed to be different. the one...
  36. O

    Movable mirror of a Michelson interferometer

    i know the question may be a bit stupid to some people, but i seriously don't know how to do it... Homework Statement How far must the movable mirror of a Michelson interferometer, illuminated by a 589-nm source, be displaces for 2000 fringes to move past the reference point? Homework...
  37. M

    Michelson Interferometer

    Homework Statement Basically, there is an interferometer with one perfect mirror and a mirror with varying thickness across it. You shine parallel coherent light, wavelength 633nm, and see an interference pattern. The interference batter is wavy dark and light fringes of varying thickness. Two...
  38. M

    Intro Physics Lab Interferometry Question (Fabry-Perot vs. Michelson)

    Homework Statement The Michelson interferometer can be used to measure extremely small distance scales. What is the smallest distance scale that can be measured? What uncertainty is associated with this? What is the smallest scale that can be measured by the Fabry-Perot...
  39. S

    How Many Fringes Shift in a Michelson Interferometer When Air is Evacuated?

    Here's my problem: One of the arms of Michelson interferometer without the compensator consists of a cell 7.5 cm long. How many fringes would be observed shifting if all the air were evacuated from the cell? Use nvac= 1, nair= 1.00029 and the source wavelength 5,000 Angstoms (1 Angstrom =...
  40. N

    Deriving the Michelson Interferometer Equation: d_m = (m[lambda])/2

    does anyone know how to derive this equation regarding the Michelson interferometer: d_m = (m[lambda])/2 where d_m is the physical distance of a micrometer division, m is the number of fringes that crosses a screen given some d_m and lambda is the wavelength of the laser used to create the...
  41. N

    Does General Relativity Affect Vertical and Horizontal Light Beam Speeds?

    I think General Relativity would argue that the light traveling vertically, shown in the diagram by the blue track, would be faster than the beam traveling an equal distance horizontally in the predominantly stronger gravitational field. We are assuming no atmosphere. Is this correct or could...
  42. F

    Understanding the Impact of Michelson Morley Experiment on Modern Science

    Could someone please explain to me the significance of the results of the michelson morley experiment? What is the explanation of how those results could happen and how they fit in with current theory? Has the experiment been repeated in space away from the Earth's gravity field?
  43. S

    Group delay measurement using Michelson Interferometer

    For my undergraduate project, I have been tasked to measure group delay of dielectric mirrors. I have found only papers that point mainly to use a Michelson interferometer using white light interferometry. I have googled and found how to construct a standard Michelson interferometer. However I...
  44. E

    Michelson Interferometer Pattern

    Homework Statement Explain how a pattern of straight line fringes of equal thickness can be observed in a michelson interferometer. Homework Equations see diagram 1/3 of the way down page at http://www.holo.com/holo//book/book6&7.html The Attempt at a Solution I really am stuck...
  45. S

    Exploring the Weirdness of Light: Michelson & Relativity

    [This was moved from a thread in Philosophy Forum. -MIH] ..an example that is commonly used in physics and my response for it. Is light actually passing him at 300,000,000 m/s? I would say no. Let's say he starts moving at 299,999,999 m/s. This will slow down thinking, perception...
  46. K

    Help me in michelson interferometer

    Homework Statement Find the angular radius of the tenth bright fringe in a Michelson interferometer when the central-path difference (2d) is (i) 1.50 mm and (ii) 1.5 cm. Assume the orange light of a krypton arc is used and that the interference is adjusted in each case so that the first...
  47. K

    Angular radius in michelson interferometer

    Homework Statement Find the angular radius of the tenth bright fringe in a Michelson interferometer when the central-path difference (2d) is (i) 1.50 mm and (ii) 1.5 cm. Assume the orange light of a krypton arc is used and that the interference is adjusted in each case so that the first...
  48. M

    Need Help with Michelson Interferometer Setup?

    Hey there, I'm doing a Michelson Interferometer for my final Physics project, and my partner and I are having some difficulties. We have our beam splitter set up 45 degrees from the light source (a simple red laser) and 2 mirrors set up in such a way that the one directly across from the beam...
  49. J

    Michelson interferometer - change splitting pattern

    How would you change the splitting patterns for an interferometer? (Specifically a Michelson interferometer, if it matters) How would changing the fixed mirror, movable mirror, etc. affect the pattern? --- We just started learning some optics, and are just supposed to understand this...
  50. A

    Question concerning Michelson stellar interferometer

    Hello there, I have a question concerning Michelson stellar interferometer. It is about stars ejecting mass in a thin luminous shell of gas expanding to a size greater than that of star itself. So it says in the exercise: a michelson interferometer is used as a fourrier transform...
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