Design of a 1/4 Wavelength Michelson Interferometer Using a Compact Optical Setup

Abstract

Interferometry takes advantage of the interference phenomenon of light and it has been used to measure displacement, angles, speed and objects shape for countless applications. Historically, interferometers were developed for optical laboratories with special supports that hold the components, nowadays, commercial systems with high performance and different integration levels are available. This paper presents the design of a Michelson interferometer with a 1/4 wavelength optical resolution and a 1/16 wavelength resolution by means of quadrature signal generation. The proposed interferometer uses a homodyne He-Ne laser. The design considers a compact optical setup, which permits a simple alignment of the system.