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Experiment 5

Fabry-Perot Interferometer

INTRODUCTION
The Fabry-Perot interferometer, designed in 1899 by C. Fabry and A. Perot, represents a
significant improvement over the Michelson interferometer. The difference between the two lies
in the fact that the Fabry-Perot design contains plane surfaces that are all partially reflecting so
that multiple rays of light are responsible for creation of the observed interference patterns. The
general theory behind interferometry still applies to the Fabry-Perot model, however, these
multiple reflections reinforce the areas where constructive and destructive effects occur making
the resulting fringes much more clearly defined. This, as will be discussed later, allows for much
more precise measurements of wavelength, and free spectral range.

Strictly speaking, a Fabry-Perot by definition consists of two planar mirrors, but the term
is nowadays very frequently also used for resonators with curved mirrors. From a theoretical
viewpoint, plane-plane optical resonators are special in the sense that their cavity modes extend
up to the edges of the mirrors and experience some diffraction losses. However, Fabry-Perots
are usually used with input beams of much smaller diameter, which are actually not really
matched to the cavity modes. For the usually small mirror spacings, where diffraction within a
round trip is rather weak, this deviation does not matter that much.

For optical spectrum analysis, the Fabry-Perot interferometer is often made short
enough to achieve a sufficiently large free spectral range; the bandwidth of the resonances is
then the free spectral range divided by the finesse. Due to the high reflectivities, the finesse can
be rather high (well above 1000, with supermirrors even much higher). For a given finesse, one
can improve the wavelength resolution by increasing the mirror distance, but only at the cost of
reducing the free spectral range, i.e., the range within which unique spectral assignment is
possible.

Much of what we know about the structure of

atoms and molecules comes from a study of the spectral
lines they emit. Many decades of observations have
shown that the spectrums of atomic and molecular
systems have an enormous amount of fine structure
which cannot easily be seen. For example the most
important feature in the spectrum of sodium looks, in
many spectrometers, like a single bright yellow line of
wavelength of 589 nm. But on finer resolution it is seen
to be a doublet, two distinct lines at 589.0 nm and 589.6
nm. Furthermore, if you apply a strong magnetic field to
the system, you will find that some of the lines split into
several different wavelengths, separated by perhaps Concentric ring pattern produced
0.01 nm. by a Fabry-Perot etalon
In order to do useful spectroscopy on such systems therefore, you need a spectrometer with a
resolution of something like 0.01 nm. One such is the Fabry-Perot interferometer.

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Properties of Fabry-Perot Interferometer

For high resolution spectroscopy where a resolution of MHz to Ghz is required, a Fabry-
Perot interferometer (FP) is used. The FP consists of two plane mirrors mounted accurately
parallel to one another, with an optical spacing L1 between them. For a given spacing L1 the
interferometer will transmit only certain wavelengths ? as determined by

0
where t (<1) is the maximum possible transmission determined by losses in the system, and
F, the finesse, is a quality factor depending primarily on the mirror reflectivity and flatness.
Equation 1 shows that only those wavelengths satisfying

for integral values of p, will be transmitted. This is illustrated below.

D
l
T

The finesse F is
related to the spacing
between successive
d
l
transmitted wavelengths ? ?
(known as the free spectral
range, FSR) and the width d?
of a given transmission peak
by
p
l p+1
l

The FP is used as a spectrometer by varying the spacing L1 so as to scan the light

intensity at different wavelengths. However it is immediately apparent that the measured
intensity at a given spacing is the sum of the intensities at all wavelengths satisfying
condition 2. An un ambigious interpretation of the spectrum is thus impossible unless it is
known a priori that the spectrum of the light lies entirely within a wavelength spread < ? ?. It is
true that since

one may make ? ? arbitrarily large by decreasing L1. However d? increases proportional to
? ? and so the resolution decreases. In fact equation 3 shows that the ratio between FSR, ? ?
and the resolution d? , is just the finesse F. In practice F cannot be made much greater than
about 100 due to limitations on the quality of mirror substrates and coatings. The relationship
between FSR and resolution is thus fixed within limits determined by the achievable values
of F.

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Vibration isolation

The interferometer requires a quiet, vibration free environment. The better solution is to mount
the optical table rigidly on the floor, but to isolate the interferometer from the optical table. Note that an
enclosure is required around the interferometer to protect it from sound waves which can excite high-
frequency resonances in the system.

Plate Flatness
Due to the multiple reflections in a Fabry-Perot interferometer, deviations in the homogeneity
of the reflecting surfaces are ‘multiplied’, too.

Tilting
When the system is not proper aligned the fringe will not appear. A pointed laser pass through the
etalon appears as many spots. Adjust the tilting knobs properly all the spots comes in to the center spot
of the etalon. Insert the lense cap in to the laser capsule. The diverged output of laser beam produce
the fringe with observable size.
VERNIER DRIVE

TILTING KNOBS

TO OBSERVE THE FRINGE

SCATTERING PLATE
LASER
LENSE

MICROMETER DRIVE FOR

LASER POWER SUPPLY SPACE ADJUSTING

METALLIC COATED GLASS PLATES

WITH REFLECTIVITY 50

FIG. Experimental arrangement for FP Interferometer.

Note
In actual setup the laser capsule contain a diverging lens this will enough to illuminate the etalon plate.

SPECIFICATIONS
For special application use a clear optical fused silica, which has
Fabrey-Perot Etalon a very low thermal expansion of 0.55 x 10-6 per °C. Being highly
durable and having good resistance to abrasion makes fused
silica a good choice for applications that are high in wear and tear.
Dia:25mm
Clear aperture:20mm Experiments possible
Thickness:8mm
To find the wavelength of laser light.
Surface finish:l/10
To find the air spacing ‘d’ of etalon
Coatin to give R/T ratio 50/50 To compare the quality of laser sorces.
Spacer thickness: 0-10mm To find the finessie and free spectral range (FSR)
of etalon from the fringe calibration.

Etc.

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 Lens
Optical Path
Laser

CCD Detector Beam Expander

Fabry Perot Interferometer

Diode laser with power supply
Model -DL-LK
Laser module consists of encased diode
laser (Index Guided AlGAInP laser diode)
and an adjustable collimating lens. The
power supply of diode laser is inbuilt. We
have four models depending upon the power
and wavelength.
(1) DL-LK-3 [3mW O/P at 635nm wavelength]
(2) DL-LK-5 [5mW O/P at 650nm wavelength]
(3) DL-LK-10 [10mW O/P at 650nm wavelength]
(4) DL-LK-G5 [5mW O/P at 532nm wavelength]
Screen

Experimental arrangement for Fabry Perot Interferometer with video o/p

If you want to purchase the computer interfacing unit and software please specify it.
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Fabry Perot Interferometer Construction Details

Fabry Perot interferometer

Top view

Fabry Perot interferometer

Side view

In the movable mirror mount, it is mounted in a translation stage. The micrometer

shaft actuates a lever arm which pushes the translation stage carrying the beam
splitter. Here 10 micron on the thimble(one division) is equal to 0.35 micron on the
translation stage. Ie when we move one step on the micrometer, beam splitter is
moved to 0.35 micron.

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Determination of distance between the plates of fabry perot etalon, FSR

(Free Spectral range), Finesse etc. of fabry perot etalon.

From the theory

Ml = 2d cosq
As q increses , m decreases and hence the order of the ring dimnishes as their
radi increases. Then the integer nearest to 2d/l
will be the order of the fringe
system at the center. Consider the m’th ring

Ml
= 2d cosq
m

For successive rings

(M+1)l
= 2d cosq
m+1

(M+2)l
= 2d cosq
m+2

(M+3)l = 2d cosq m+3

.......................

So that
= 2d [cosq
l m - cosq ]
m+1!]
2l
= 2d [cosq m+2]]
m - cosq
= 2d [cosq
3
l m+3 ]]
m - cosq
.......................

nl
= 2d [cosq
m - cosq
m+n ]
n = 2d/l
[cosq
m - cosq
m+n ]
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Tan q
m=c
m/D

Cos2q 2 )
m = 1/(1+tan q
m

When ‘D’ is large

Center of fringe bands
m= c
q m/D
So,

Cos2q
m = 1/[1+(c
2 2
m /D )]

2 2 -1/2
m = {1/[1+(c
Cosq m /D )]}

1-(c2 2 c
m
@ m /2D )
c m+1
cm+2
[1-(c
n = 2d/l 2 2 2 2
m /2D ) - {1-(c
m+n /2D )} c
m+3

c
m+4
n = 2d/2D2l
[c 2
m+n - c
2
m ]
c
m+5

n = d/D2l
[c 2
m+n - c
2
m ]
Line drawing of Fabrey Perot fringe pattern
n = d/D2l
[c2
n ]

2 2 2
n =c
c m+n - c
m

Plot n Vs c 2 2 . From which we can calculate ‘d’.

n is a straight line with the slope d/D l
Knowing ‘d’ the order of the center of the fringe can be evaluated as 2d/l

Free Spectral Range

The resolution of a Fabry-Perot
plate can be improved by
increasing the optical path
difference between the two
reflecting surfaces. But, doing
this, also the interference order
is increased, leading to more
problems with overlapping
orders. As a measure for the
useful working range (no
overlapping orders) the Free
Spectral Range of an
instrument is defined.

Then the Free Spectral Range of the Etalon Is given by FSR = c/2d

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Finesse
It is costumary to define a numerical value which characterizes the width – or better the sharpness – of
the maxima. This number is called Finesse of an interferometer and defined as the ratio of peak distance
to peak halfwidth.
This figure shows how the
Transmission
reflectivity of the surfaces affects
the transmission. If the reflectivity
Low reflectivity surfaces is relatively low, the maxima in
transmission will be broad. On the
other hand, if the reflectivity is high,
the maxima of transmission will be
High rflectivity surfaces very narrow and sharp.
This leads to the concept of
Wave length ? the finesse of the interferometer.
The finesse is a measure of the
D ? o-No ? o+D? o-No-1
interferometer's ability to resolve
o- D
? ?o-No+1
closely spaced spectral lines. The
finesse F is defined by the
Fabry-Perot transmission as a function of wavelength following Equation.

F= R = The reflectivity of the surfaces.

As the reflectivity approaches unity, the finesse becomes very high. For high reflectivity, the
transmission maxima are narrow, so that the transmission of maxima of slightly different wavelengths
can be easily distinguished. Because of this capability, the Fabry-Perot interferometer can be used as
a high resolution spectrometer. In fact, the resolving power RP is given the equation:

Where
RP = NF N = The order of the interference.
F = The finesse.

Then

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Contrast
To rate the suppression between maxima, the Contrast is defined as ratio of peak height to the
minimum intensity. The transmission minimum at d =p and at equivalent phases define a
Contrast value C of
From the eqn. Of finesse

Then
C = QR +1
As only the influence of the reflectivity on the linewidth is
considered here, often the term Reflectivity Finesse is
used to distinguish it from other properties influencing the
transfer function

Calculations Scattering plate with measuring pointer

2 2 2
= No. n = c-
c m+n c m D d = nD2l/c
n
2
c
m (m)
(m2) (mm)
m+1 =
c
m+2 =
c
m+3 =
c
m+4 =
c
m+5 =
c

Mean ‘d’ =

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200
180
160
140
120
Xm

100 Xm
80
60
40
20
0
0 5 10 15 20
fringe order (n)

m We can find ‘d’

Plot the graph n Vs c d = nD2l
/
c
n
2 R = mirror reflectivity (fraction of unity)
N = refractive index of cavity
d = distance between mirror surfaces
d/D2l
= 1/slope (cavity gap)
c = speed of light
ë = wavelength
d = D 2l
/slope

Result

The wavelength of laser light = ......650...............nm

l

The spcing of etalon is d = .....................mm

Finesse of the given etalon is F = .....................

Free Spectral Range of the Etalon Is given by

FSR = c/2d

FSR = .................... in Hz
Free Spectral Range ( FSR ) = 1/2nd in wavenumbers
Free Spectral Range ( FSR ) = c/2nd in frquency
Free Spectral Range ( FSR ) = l2/2nd in wavelength

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 Required Reading:
1. Optical Resonators.
2. Types of FP Interferometers.
3. Uses of FP Interferometers

References:
1. P. D. Atherton, N. K. Reay, J. Ring, "Tunable Fabry-Perot Filters", Opt. Engg., Vol 20, 806 (1981).

2. M. Born and E. Wolf, Principles of Optics.