Michelsonopstelling

The Michelsonopstelling, named after Albert Michelson, is a fundamental optical instrument used in physics experiments. Its core component is the Michelson interferometer. This device splits a beam of light into two paths, which are then reflected back and recombined. The interference pattern created by the recombined beams is highly sensitive to differences in the path lengths of the two beams.

The basic setup consists of a light source, a beam splitter, two mirrors, and a detector. The beam splitter divides the incoming light into two perpendicular beams. Each beam travels to a mirror, reflects off it, and returns to the beam splitter. At the beam splitter, the two beams are recombined, and their interference is observed. If the path lengths of the two beams are identical, constructive interference occurs, resulting in a bright fringe. If the path lengths differ by half a wavelength, destructive interference occurs, producing a dark fringe.

The Michelsonopstelling has been crucial for numerous scientific advancements. Most famously, it was used in the Michelson-Morley experiment, which attempted to detect the luminiferous aether, a hypothetical medium thought to carry light waves. The experiment yielded a null result, contributing significantly to the development of Einstein's theory of special relativity. Beyond its historical significance, the Michelson interferometer is employed in various applications, including precise length measurements, surface profiling, spectroscopy, and optical coherence tomography. Its ability to detect minute changes in optical path length makes it a versatile tool in scientific research and technology.