Abstract

Characteristics of multiple-beam interference fringes, as in a Fabry–Perot interferometer with monochromatic light, are analyzed. The optical path and the optical-path difference between interfering beams are calculated for the most general case. Different refractive indices in the inner and outer media, and arbitrary locations of the light source and the point of observation, are taken into account. An expression for the impulse response of the system is given. The results obtained from experimental tests confirm the theoretical predictions.

© 1984 Optical Society of America

Optical spatial frequency filtering using interferences

L. Dettwiller and P. Chavel
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 1(1) 18-27 (1984)

Three-dimensional intensity distributions in the region of focus of two superposed converging spherical waves

Christopher J. C. Thompson and William L. Wolfe
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 1(4) 356-358 (1984)

Interference pattern of the Fizeau interferometer

T. T. Kajava, H. M. Lauranto, and A. T. Friberg
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 11(7) 2045-2054 (1994)

Coupling coefficients of an incident wave and the modes of a spherical optical resonator in the case of mismatching and misalignment

F. Bayer-Helms
Appl. Opt. 23(9) 1369-1380 (1984)

Focusing of electromagnetic waves through a dielectric interface

Hao Ling and Shung-Wu Lee
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 1(9) 965-973 (1984)