Consider a Michelson interferometer illuminated by laser light. Assume that the incident light is well described by a plane wave. Suppose that one of the retroreflecting mirrors has a small misalignment of angle theta. Describe the interference pattern on a screen at the output of the interferometer, relating aspects of the interference pattern to theta as appropriate. Describe how the pattern changes as either mirror moves.

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In a Michelson interferometer interference patterns are created by splitting a coherent beam of light into two paths using a beam splitter reflecting ... View the full answer