In a Michelson interferometer, a laser beam is split into two beams as shown in the figure. When the two beams are combined, an interference pattern is seen on the observation screen. The interference pattern is a series of concentric bright circles separated by dark ones as shown in the figure. At the center of the pattern is a bright circular spot. Suppose the movable mirror is slowly moved toward the beam splitter by distance 1/2. As this is done, what happens to the interference pattern? a) There is no change in the interference pattern. b) The interference pattern becomes brighter, but otherwise remains the same. c) The central bright spot turns into a dark spot (B → D). d) The central bright spot turns into a dark spot and then back into a bright spot (B → D → B). e) The central bright spot turns into a dark spot, then into a bright spot, and then back into a dark spot (B → D → B → D). Fixed Mirror Beam Splitter Movable LASER Mirror Observation Screen

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In a Michelson interferometer, a laser beam is split into two beams as shown in the figure.
When the two beams are combined, an interference pattern is seen on the observation
screen. The interference pattern is a series of concentric bright circles separated by dark
ones as shown in the figure. At the center of the pattern is a bright circular spot. Suppose
the movable mirror is slowly moved toward the beam splitter by distance 1/2. As this is
done, what happens to the interference pattern? a) There is no change in the interference
pattern. b) The interference pattern becomes brighter, but otherwise remains the same.
c) The central bright spot turns into a dark spot (B → D). d) The central bright spot turns
into a dark spot and then back into a bright spot (B → D → B). e) The central bright spot
turns into a dark spot, then into a bright spot, and then back into a dark spot (B → D →
B → D).
Fixed Mirror
Beam
Splitter
Movable
LASER
Mirror
a
Observation Screen
Transcribed Image Text:In a Michelson interferometer, a laser beam is split into two beams as shown in the figure. When the two beams are combined, an interference pattern is seen on the observation screen. The interference pattern is a series of concentric bright circles separated by dark ones as shown in the figure. At the center of the pattern is a bright circular spot. Suppose the movable mirror is slowly moved toward the beam splitter by distance 1/2. As this is done, what happens to the interference pattern? a) There is no change in the interference pattern. b) The interference pattern becomes brighter, but otherwise remains the same. c) The central bright spot turns into a dark spot (B → D). d) The central bright spot turns into a dark spot and then back into a bright spot (B → D → B). e) The central bright spot turns into a dark spot, then into a bright spot, and then back into a dark spot (B → D → B → D). Fixed Mirror Beam Splitter Movable LASER Mirror a Observation Screen
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