DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : J Srinivasa Rao
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : D.A.E.I.E
Institute : Govt. Polytechnic, Kothagudem
Year/Semester : VI Sem
Subject : Analytical Instrumentation
Subject Code : AEI-603
Topic : Analysers
Duration : 100 Min
Sub Topic : Interferometer
Teaching Aids : PPT, Pictures
AEI-603.17 To 18 1
 Objectives

On the completion of this period you will be able

to know about

• Principle of interferometers

• Construction and Working of interferometers

• Applications of Interferometers

AEI-603.17 To 18 2
 Recap

In the previous topic we have studied about

• Refractive index

• Refractometer

Now we are going to learn about Interferometer

AEI-603.17 To 18 3
 Principle

• The measurement of refractive index is based upon the

interference of light. The light enters and leaves the

solution at right angles.

• Parallel light passes through small openings R1 and R2.

Since R1O and R20 are of equal length, the two beams

arrive at ‘O’ in phase and a bright spot results.

AEI-603.17 To 18 4
• If a substance of slightly greater refractive index is
placed at C, the optical length of the beam R2O is
increased by an amount of Δb because the velocity of

the light through C is decreased.

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Interference

AEI-603.17 To 18 6
Interferometer

AEI-603.17 To 18 7
AEI-603.17 To 18 8
 Expression

The magnitude of this increase depends on the thickness

of the sample and upon its refractive index, where

Δb=b(η-ηo)

where

b= thickness of the sample

η= refractive index of sample

ηo= refractive index of medium (air)

AEI-603.17 To 18 9
 Relation Between Interference with
Refractive Index

• The velocities of light in two media are proportional to

their indices of refraction.

• The two beams no longer arrive in phase at ‘O’ but at

some other point O|, which is now optically equally

distant from R1 and R2. The entire band of system will

be shifted by this amount.

AEI-603.17 To 18 10
• Thus with substance at C in the path of one of the
beams, by counting the number of bands which the
central band has shifted, we can determine the value of
b(η-ηo).

• If two plates of equal thickness were placed in the two

beams, the number of bands that the central band shifts
would be a means of calculating the refractive index of
one of the plates, provided that the value of the other

one was known.

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Interferometer

AEI-603.17 To 18 12
 Construction & Working
• The optical lengths of the two beams is equalized by
means of glass plate in the path of each beam p1 and p2
at an angle of about 450 to the beam, one plate being
fixed and the other attached to a lever by which it can be
rotated, thus increasing or decreasing the effective
thickness.
• The movement is measured by a micrometer screw.
• This is turned until the central achromatic bands of the
two systems correspond.

AEI-603.17 To 18 13
 Expression

• For light of wave length λ, the distance between O and

O| measured in number of fringes N ( each made up of
dark and light band is given by
∆β
N=
λ
b(η − ηo)
N=
λ

AEI-603.17 To 18 14
 APPLICATIONS

• To measure the quantity of CH4 and CO2 in air.

• To determine the permeability of balloon fabrics to
hydrogen and helium.
• To determine potassium and sodium in a mixture of their
sulphates and chlorides.
• To measure CO2 in blood, ethyl alcohol in blood,
concentration of heavy water etc.

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 Summary

In this class we have discussed about

• Interference

• Interferometer principle of operation

• Application of interferometer

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 Quiz

The interferometer is used to measure

 To measure CH4 and CO2 in air.

 To determine the permeability of balloon fabrics

 To determine potassium and sodium in a mixture
of their sulphates and chlorides.
 All of the above

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 Frequently asked Questions

1) Explain the principle construction and working

of Interferometer.

2) List the application of interferometer.

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