Michelson interferometer

noun

An optical interferometer that uses a beam splitter to split a light source into two arms, each of which is reflected back toward the beam splitter which then combines their amplitudes using the superposition principle. The resulting interference pattern is typically directed to a photoelectric detector or camera.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounMichelson interferometer (plural Michelson interferometers)

plural Michelson interferometers

  1. An optical interferometer that uses a beam splitter to split a light source into two arms, each of which is reflected back toward the beam splitter which then combines their amplitudes using the superposition principle. The resulting interference pattern is typically directed to a photoelectric detector or camera.

Origin

Invented by Albert Abraham Michelson.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Michelson interferometer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Michelson%20interferometer

MLA

“Michelson interferometer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Michelson%20interferometer. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Michelson interferometer,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Michelson%20interferometer.

Source: Michelson interferometer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.