Designed for precision measurements, yet simple to set up and use, this massively constructed instrument is an ideal introduction to the precise optics of interferometry, and will be a workhorse in your advanced optics lab for many years. The easily interchangeable Michelson and Fabry-Perot setups make it useful for a wide range of investigations, while its finely-worked optical and mechanical parts allow it to be used with conventional spectral light sources as easily as with the less demanding lasers. Readily conduct experiments such as the determination of wavelengths of light from various sources, the examination of thin film and wedge fringes, and the observation of white light fringes.

The 20-cm high base is fitted with three adjustable and lockable leveling feet and carries the interferometer at a convenient eye level. The interferometer casting is 5.5cm x 6cm x 28cm and has a machined and ground lathe bed with a precision 1-mm pitch lead screw and a 205mm divided steel scale. A carriage for the movable mirror in each interferometer configuration slides on the lathe bed. Using the scale and a micrometer display on the gearbox, the position of the carriage can be set and read to 0.01mm. An additional fine adjustment knob then permits this setting to be changed and read in increments of 0.0001mm, making the precise counting of fringes very simple.

The fixed portions of the Michelson and Fabry-Perot arrangements are each mounted on a vertical steel plate that attaches to the interferometer casting. Coarse adjustment screws and a torsion bar fine adjustment system are provided for horizontal and vertical mirror alignment . The mirror surfaces are flat to within 1/4 wavelength of green light, giving high quality images across the visible spectrum.

The instrument includes a fixed focus 3x magnification telescope for viewing remotely located fringes and a 70mm diameter ground glass screen with a 5mm grid for setting up the interferometers. An operating manual is included. Dimensions: 55 x 22 x 40cm, mass is 19.4kg.