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<font color="red">Something about plane wave solutions here.</font>

The light waves that we used in our model of the Michelson interferometer are what are called plane waves.  Plane waves are waves that have planes of constant phase, which are orthogonal to the wave vector <math>\boldsymbol{k}</math>.  Mathematically, plane waves look as follows:

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Electromagnetic waves also have the property that they superimpose. [[Image:MichIntInt.jpg|thumb|Interference from a Michelson Interferometer (courtesy of [http://www.arikah.com/encyclopedia/Interference])]] Like mechanical waves, EM waves can interfere destructively or constructively, but, unlike mechanical waves, there is an additional condition for light wave interference.  In order for this to occur, the light waves must be traveling in the same direction, be of the same wavelength and have a constant phase with respect to each other.  The reason that light waves must be travelling in the same direction to interfere is that in order for interference to occur, both of the   The reason for this A picture of EM wave interference is shown at right.

Electromagnetic waves also have the property that they superimpose. [[Image:MichIntInt.jpg|thumb|Interference from a Michelson Interferometer (courtesy of [http://www.arikah.com/encyclopedia/Interference])]] Like mechanical waves, EM waves can interfere destructively or constructively, but, unlike mechanical waves, there is an additional condition for light wave interference.  In order for this to occur, the light waves must be traveling in the same direction, be of the same wavelength and have a constant phase with respect to each other.  The reason that light waves must be travelling in the same direction to interfere is that in order for interference to occur, both the electric and magnetic field components must "line up". A picture of EM wave interference is shown at right.

==INTERFEREOMETRY AND THE MICHELSON INTERFEROMETER==

==INTERFEREOMETRY AND THE MICHELSON INTERFEROMETER==