282Phys.

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Experiment 7
Interference at a Fresnels Mirror
with an He-Ne Laser

1- Objects of the experiment
- To generate two virtual coherent light sources through reflection of a point-shaped
light source at a Fresnels mirror.
- To observe the interference of the two virtual light sources.
- To measure the distance y of the interference lines.
- To generate projected images of the virtual light sources.
- To measure the distance D of the projected images.
- To determine the wavelength of the light of an He-Ne laser from the distance
y of the interference lines, the distance D of the projected images of the virtual
light sources and the geometrical dimensions of the assembly.

2- Principles
The Fresnels mirror consists of two plane mirrors, slightly angled with respect to
each other. A point light source S reflected in a Fresnels mirror appears as a pair of
virtual light sources S
1
and S
2
positioned close together, which interfere with each
other due to their coherence.

Figure 1. Operating principle of the Fresnels mirror.

In this experiment, the light source S is the same as the focal point of the lens used to
broaden the laser beam. To determine the wavelength of the He-Ne laser light used
in this experiment, we must first find the distance
bright
y between two intensity
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maxima. Then, the two virtual light sources S
1
and S
2
are imaged on the observation
screen using a second lens, and the distance D of the projected images is measured.
As the geometrical dimensions of the setup are known, we can use these data to
determine the distance d between the virtual light sources.
For a large distance L between the light source and the observation screen, we can
calculate the wavelength of the light used from the quantities d and
bright
y as
follows: Two coherent waves are observed which originate at S
1
and S
2
and
propagate in the direction
bright
u (see Fig. 2).
bright
u is the direction of the mth
intensity maximum, when for the path difference

bright bright
d u o sin =
(Equation 1)

of the two waves the following applies:

o m
bright
=
(Equation 2)


Figure 2. Intensity maxima arise when m y = (m being an integer)

For the distance
bright
y between the 0th and the mth maximum, the following
geometrical relationship is obtained.
1
S'
2
S'
d
o
L
) 0 ( = m fringe bright Zeroth
fringe bright mth
bright
y
bright
u
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bright
bright
bright
L
y
u u sin tan ~ = (Equation 3)

As a result it follows that:
L m
y d
m
L
y
d
bright bright
= = (Equation 4)

For two adjacent maxima:
L
y d
bright
1
=
(Equation 5)

Figure 3. Beam path for projection of the virtual light sources on the projection
screen using a 200mm lens. The distance D and q are measured.

The determination of the separation of the virtual point light sources is depicted in
Figure 3. By using the intercept theorems we directly obtain the two correlations

f
f p
D
d
and
q
p
D
d
= = (Equation 6)

Equalizing the two equations for elimination of d/D

f
f p
q
p
=

Resolving for p results in

d D
f
p
q
1
S'
2
S'
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f q
qf
p

= (Equation 7)

Besides, we have

q
f q
qf
L q p L +

= + = (Equation 8)

f q
q
L

=
2
(Equation 9)

From Equations 6, and 7:

D
f q
f
d D
q
p
d

= = (Equation 10)

From Equations 5, 9, and 10, we obtain:

2
1
q
f y D
bright
=
(Equation 11)

3- Equipments
1 He-Ne laser, linearly polarized 471 840
1 Fresnels mirror, adjustable 471 05
1 lens, f = 5mm 460 01
1 lens, f = 200mm 460 04
1 optical bench, 1m, standard cross-section 460 32
3 optics riders, height: 60mm width: 36mm 460 353
1 optics rider, height: 60mm width: 50mm 460 351
1 translucent screen 441 53
1 saddle base 300 11
1 vernier calipers, plastic 311 52
1 steel tape measure 311 77

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Figure 4. Fresnels mirror

Laser Safety

Figure 5. He-Ne Laser, linearly polarized

The He-Ne laser emits visible radiation with a wavelength of 632.8 nm at a maximum
optical output power below 1 mW, thus meeting the requirements according to class 2
of EN 60825-1 Safety of laser equipment. That means protection of the human eye
usually depends on averting reactions including the lid closure reflex. Moreover, the
He-Ne laser can only be put into operation by means of a key switch, maximum
optical output power is only obtained by operating a wire trip, and the on-state is
always seen thanks to a conspicuous power-on indicator. Nevertheless the following
safety notes have to be heeded:
- Never look directly into the laser beam.
1- Beam aperture, with grey filter
2- Power-on indicator
3- Wire trip
4- Input socket for plug-in power supply
5- Key switch
6- Stand rod with thread
7 Threaded bush
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- Allow only authorized and instructed persons to operate the He-Ne laser.
- Inform all persons who participate in the experiment and in the observations about
the dangers of laser light and about necessary protective measures.
- When carrying out experiments, do not exceed the minimum required optical output
power in each case.
- Align the ray path so that it does not run at eye level. Restrict the area covered by
the laser by means of screens, and avoid unintended reflections.
- Before putting the laser into operation, examine the housing for damage. In case of
malfunction or visible damage shut the He-Ne laser down and make sure that it is not
used inadvertently.
- Under no circumstances open the housing. The operation and ignition voltage in the
interior may be dangerous to life.

4- Setup
Diffraction of the laser light at the outside edge of the Fresnels mirror can cause
unwanted diffraction patterns on the observation screen, which can easily be confused
with the desired interference pattern. One way to recognize them is that their position
does not depend on the angle of the mirror sections to each other. Before each
measurement, change the angle of the mirror sections to each other using the knurled
screw (3) and check whether the distance between the interference lines changes.


Figure 6. Interference image on the observation screen. A bright band can still be
discerned at the left edge, which stems from the light that does not hit the mirror.

Figure 7 shows the experiment setup. The positions of the left edge of the optics riders
are given in cm.
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- Attach the optics riders at the given positions on the optical bench and set up the
translucent screen on the saddle base at least 2 m from the optical axis.
- Adjust the laser and the 5 mm lens (1) on the optics riders so that the center of the
broadened laser beam runs parallel to the optical bench. You may need to trace the
beam path with a piece of paper.
- Set up the 200 mm lens (2) so that the translucent screen is illuminated.
- When mounting the Fresnels mirror, make sure that the broadened laser beam falls
on the separating edges of the two half-mirrors. Incline the mirror only very slightly,
so that the laser beam just grazes the mirror and the reflected light travels virtually in
parallel to the optical bench. Use the vertical adjustment with respect to the optical
axis via knurled screw (4) and make sure that the reflected light falls on the center of
lens (2).
- Adjust lens (2) until both virtual light sources are sharply imaged on the translucent
screen (move the rider on the optical bench if necessary). Laser light which bypasses
the Fresnels mirror produces a third light spot on the screen to the left of the two
projected images. This does not affect the experiment in any way.
- Using knurled screw (3), set the distance D between the two projected images to
about 5 mm when the screen is positioned approx. 2 m away.

Figure 7. Experiment setup on the optical bench, with position specifications for the
left edge of the optics rider.

5- Carrying out the experiment
a) Interference of the two virtual light sources:
- Remove lens (2) from the optics rider.
- Use knurled screw (3) to adjust a high-contrast interference pattern. You may need
to hold a piece of white paper in front of the screen.
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If the diffraction at the outer front edge of the Fresnels mirror causes an additional,
distracting interference pattern:
- Using knurled screw (4), change the position of the Fresnels mirror until the
divergent laser beam is no longer incident on the outer edge.
- Using the vernier calipers, measure the distance
bright
y between lines and write down
this value. If the separation amounts to, for example, mm y
bright
24 = between 7
maxima, then mm y
bright
43 . 3 7 / 24
1
= =

b) Projecting the virtual light sources:
- Insert lens (2) and readjust it as necessary to obtain a sharply focused image of the
virtual light sources. Measure the distance D with the vernier calipers and write this
value down.
- Using the steel tape measure, measure the distance q between the projected image
and lens (2), and write down this value.
- Remove the lens (2), create a new interference pattern and repeat your
measurements as shown in Table 1.

Table 1.
Experiment
1
bright
y (mm)
D (mm) q (mm) Equation 11
1
=
1

2
=
2

a) Use Equation 11 for determining
1
from experiment 1, and
2
from experiment 2.
b) Determine the average value from the equation:
2
2 1

+
=
c) Determine the percent error by using the following equation:

100
8 . 632
) ( 8 . 632

=
nm
nm nm
error Percent


d) Make a general conclusion