Mach – Zehnder Interferometer Model MZ-37
This design concept followed in this device is similar to Sagnac interferometer. The device is assembled using modular building blocks on a rigid base. A honeycomb anti- vibration breadboard of
size 800mm x 600mm is supplied as the base. Mirrors, beam splitter and diode laser along with their mounts are supplied as modular building blocks. Interferometer is built by assembling the building
blocks on the breadboard as per the desired optical layout. Optics and laser head are held using kinematic mounts with two axes fine adjustment for obtaining the interference fringes are done using
kinematic mounts. One of the simplest experiments using the Mach- Zehnder interferometer is measurement of the index of refraction of air with an airtight test cell placed in one of its optical arms of the interferometer. No other factors such as convective airflow should be present which can generate optical path differences. The flexibility in fringe localization gives Mach-Zehnder interferometer one of the important advantage over other interferometers. Although many
Mach-Zehnder interferometers use a rectangular arrangement, the parallelogram arrangements are also possible.
List of instruments supplied in this kit :
i) Optical breadboard
ii) 5mW Diode Laser with Power supply
iii) Kinematic Laser mount with carriage
iv) Metallic beam splitter with kinematic mount
v) Front coated mirror with kinematic mount
vi ) Gas cell with accessories
vii) Screen