written by Jenny Magnes and Tyler Hatch

We present an undergraduate laboratory that utilizes Fourier spectroscopy with two lasers in the visible range to demonstrate the measurement technique. In addition to teaching an important spectroscopic tool, this laboratory exercise deepens the understanding of Fourier transforms. A Michelson interferometer is used to determine the `unknown' wavelength of a green Helium Neon laser beam by scanning the position of a mirror and comparing the number of observed fringes with that from a known-wavelength red Helium Neon laser beam – the reference beam. The data points are recorded electronically using a photodiode and then transformed into frequency space where the unknown wavelength is calibrated against the known wavelength.

• Download BFY2018_Magnes.pdf - 1338kb Adobe PDF Document

Last Modified January 17, 2019

This file is included in the full-text index.