Michelson-Morley Experiment

Josephine Chen, Cory Chung, Warren Chen, Irma Nomani

ObjectiveTo use a Michelson interferometer to find the index of refraction for a material (glass/tissue)

Materials

● 1 HeNe 632.8nm Laser● 1 Broadband polarizing cube beamsplitter● 2 mirrors (one movable, one fixed)● 1 photodetector● 1 glass sample to test● 1 tissue sample to test● 1 pinhole● 1 screen

Setup

Procedure1. Align the laser and interferometer.2. Place the glass on one arm of the interferometer, i.e.

through the path of one of the beams.3. Measure the number of fringes produced by the

superposition of the beams on the screen.4. Use the formula (given later) to calculate an

experimental index of refraction.5. Move the movable mirror of the interferometer, and

repeat steps 3-4.6. Repeat steps 2-5 for animal tissue instead of glass.

Index of Refraction

n = Index of RefractionT = thickness of the materialM = number of fringesλ = laser wavelength (633 nm)θ = displacement