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Michelson Interferometer

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

A Michelson interferometer is an instrument that uses the principle of interference to measure small displacements, wavelengths, or refractive indices. It splits a beam of light into two paths, recombines them, and produces an interference pattern that can be analyzed.

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