Re: [ATM] Dumb Question about interferometers

["Don Ware" <mimas@charter.net>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Rychnovsky" <srychnov@chem.ps.uci.edu>
To: <atm@atmlist.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 5:52 PM
Subject: [ATM] Dumb Question about interferometers


> My question is about the beamsplitter.  Normally one uses a 50/50
> beamsplitter, but is this important?  Could it be 60/40 or 10/90?
> Part of my confusion is that I don't really understand how it all
> works.

Almost any beamsplitter ratio should work as both test and reference beams
go through the beamsplitter an equal number of times.  Only problem I can
see with a wide ratio such as 10T/90R is that it may be difficult to see the
return beam at the laser, which is important for initial alignment.

Don Ware
Hollis, NH
webpages.charter.net/dware1/


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