Construction of a Tabletop Michelson Interferometer

Determining Angle for First Diffraction Minimum

We start off with Maxwell's Equation in the Lorentz gauge: $\square ^{2}A^{\mu }(\mathbf {x} ,t)=\square ^{2}A^{\mu }(x)=(-\mu _{1}j^{\mu }(x))$

Where: Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle A^\mu = (\mathbf{A},\frac{\Phi} {c}), \square^2=\part_\mu \part^\mu = \nabla^2 - \frac{1}{c^2} \frac{\part}{\part t^2}} Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle j^\mu = (\mathbf{j},c\rho), \part_\mu= (\mathbf{\nabla}, \frac{1}{c} \frac{\part}{\part t})}

Lorentz Gauge: Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle A^\mu = 0 \rArr \mathbf{\nabla} \cdot \mathbf{A}+\frac{1}{c^2} \frac{\part\Phi}{\part t}=0}

Introduce Green's function at (x=t) from some impulse source at x'=(x',t')

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \square^2_xG(x,x')=\delta^4(x-x')}

Let Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \tilde{G} (q) = \frac{1}{(2\pi)^2} \int d^4x e^{iqx} G(x,0)}

Then $G(q)={\frac {1}{(2\pi )^{2}}}\int d^{4}qe^{iqx}{\tilde {G}}(x,0)$

In free space, translational symmetry implies:

$G(x-x',0)=G(x,x')\quad$

∴$G(x,x')={\frac {1}{(2\pi )^{2}}}\int d^{4}qe^{-iq(x-x')}{\tilde {G}}(q)$
$\square _{x}^{2}G(x,x')={\frac {1}{(2\pi )^{2}}}|intd^{4}qe^{-iq(x-x')}{\tilde {G}}(q)$

$\square _{x}^{2}G(x,x')={\frac {1}{(2\pi )^{2}}}\int d^{4}qe^{-iq(x-x')}(-k^{2}+{\frac {\omega ^{2}}{c^{2}}})$, where $q=(\mathbf {k} ,{\frac {\omega }{c}})\quad$
But, $\square _{x}^{2}G(x,x')=\delta ^{4}(x-x')={\frac {1}{(2\pi )^{4}}}\int d^{4}qe^{-iq(x-x')}$
∴Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \tilde{G}(q)=\frac{(2\pi)^2}{(2\pi)^4}\frac{1}{-q^2}= \frac{-1}{(2\pi)^2q^2}}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle G(x,x')=\frac{-1}{(2\pi)^4} \int d^4qe^{-iq(x-x')} \frac{1}{(k+\frac{\omega}{c})(k-\frac{\omega}{c})}}
Chose the "retarded" solution, such that the function is zero unless t>t'
Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle G(x,x')=\frac{1}{(2\pi)^4}\int d^3ke^{-i\mathbf{k}(x-x')}\int d(\frac{\omega}{c}) \frac{e^{i\omega(t-t')}}{(\frac{\omega}{c}-k)(\frac{\omega}{c}+k)}\Theta}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle =\frac{1}{(2\pi)^4}\int d^3ke^{-i\mathbf{k}(x-x')}(2\pi i \frac{e^{ick(t-t')}-e^{-ick(t-t')}}{2k})\Theta}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle =\frac{-2\pi}{(2\pi)^4}\int \frac{k^2dk}{k} \sin\left({ck(t-t')}\right) 2\pi\int_{-i}^i dze^{-ik|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x'}|z}\Theta}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle =\frac{-1}{(2\pi)^2}\left(\frac{1}{2i|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x'|}}\right)2\int dk sin(ck(t-t')) sin(k|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x'}|)\Theta}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle =\frac{1}{(2\pi)^2}\frac{2}{|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|}\frac{2\pi}{4} \left[2\delta(|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|+c(t-t'))-2\delta(|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|-c(t-t'))\right]\Theta}

But the term Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 2\delta(|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|+c(t-t'))\rightarrow 0 \quad\forall\quad t>t'}

∴Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle G(x,x')=\frac{-1}{4\pi}\quad \frac{\delta(|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|-c(t-t'))}{|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|}}

Now to get the G₁(x,x') in the half-space with z>0 with the boundary condition G₁ at x₃=z=0 we take the difference:

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle G_1(x,x')=\frac{-1}{4\pi}\left(\frac{\delta(|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|-c(t-t'))}{|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|}-\frac{\delta(|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'-2z\hat{e_3}|-c(t-t'))}{|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'-2z\hat{e_3}|}\right)}

Now use Green's theorem:

Let Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathbf{F}=A(x)\mathbf{\nabla}G_1(x,x')-G_1(x,x')\mathbf{\nabla}A(x)}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \int \mathbf{\nabla} \cdot \mathbf{F}d^4x= \int cdt \int d^3x[\mathbf{\nabla}A \cdot \mathbf{\nabla}G+A\nabla^2G_1-\mathbf{\nabla}G \cdot \mathbf{\nabla}A -G_1\nabla^2A]}

But Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \nabla^2G_1(x,x')=\delta^4(x-x')+\frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\part^2}{\part t^2}G_1(x,x')}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \nabla^2A(x)=\mu j(x)+\frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\part^2}{\part t^2}A(x)} , let Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle j(x)=0 \quad}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \int \nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} d^4x=A(x')+\frac{1}{c^2}\int d^4x\left[A\frac{\part^2}{\part t^2}G_1 - G_1\frac{\part^2}{\part t^2}A\right]}

The last term vanishes if G₁(x,x')and A(x) fall off sufficiently fast at Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle t\rightarrow\infin} . They do. So:

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \int \nabla \cdot \mathbf{F} d^4x=A(x')}


Now invoke the divergence theorem on the half space Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z>0 \quad} :


Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle A(x')=-\int d^2x\int cdt\left[A(x)\frac{\part}{\part t}G_1(x,x')-G_1(x,x')\frac{\part}{\part z}A(x)\right]} , where the last term is zero by the constriction of$G_{1}(z=0)\quad$

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle A(x')=-c\int dt\int d^2xA(x)\frac{\part}{\part z}G_1(x,x')}


To do the t integral, I need to bring out the z derivative. To do this, I first turn it into a z' derivative, using the relation:


Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle G_1(x,x')=\frac{-1}{4\pi}\left(\frac{\delta(|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|-c(t-t'))}{|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|}-\frac{\delta(|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}''|-c(t-t'))}{|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}''|}\right)} , where Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathbf{x}''=\mathbf{x}'-2z'\hat{e_3}}

Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{\part}{\part z}G_1(x,x')=\frac{1}{4\pi}\left(\frac{\part}{\part z}\left(\frac{\delta(|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|-c(t-t'))}{|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'|}-\frac{\delta(|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}''|-c(t-t'))}{|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}''|}\right)\right)}

∴ Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle A(x')=\frac{-1}{4\pi}\frac{\part}{\part z'}\int_{z=0} d^2x\left(2\frac{A(\mathbf{x},t'-\frac{\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'}{c}}{\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{x}'}\right)}