Changes

In our model of the diamond surface, Huygen's principle can be used to determine the forward distance from the surface when the reflected light will no longer contain an undistorted image of the surface.  Using the diagram at right, [[Image:DIAGRAM1.jpeg|thumb|Surface Schematic]] and some knowledge of the experimental setup, an estimate for the forward distance ''L'' can be calculated using a small angle approximation for the angle.  Assuming that the diamond surface profile is about 5 ·10^-3 m high and the thickness is 5 ·10^-6 m, the forward distance for image loss can then be deduced to be 5m.  Since this is much longer than the distance that the beams travel inside the Michelson interferometer we are using (typical scale 10 cm), the plane-wave approximation is appropriate.

In our model of the diamond surface, Huygen's principle can be used to determine the forward distance from the surface when the reflected light will no longer contain an undistorted image of the surface.  Using the diagram at right, [[Image:DIAGRAM1.jpeg|thumb|Surface Schematic]] and some knowledge of the experimental setup, an estimate for the forward distance ''L'' can be calculated using a small angle approximation for the angle.  Assuming that the diamond surface is about 5 ·10^-3 m in transverse dimensions and 5 ·10^-6 m in profile height, the forward distance for image loss can then be deduced to be 5m.  Since this is much longer than the distance that the beams travel inside the Michelson interferometer we are using (typical scale 10 cm), the plane-wave approximation is appropriate.