Optical flatinterferometer

The non-contact and vision measurement solutions from Mitutoyo bring microscopic accuracy to smaller and denser electronic components

Optical flatmeaning

Ensure high repeatability and rigorous quality control with form measurement solutions, coordinate measuring machines and precision measuring tools from Mitutoyo.

Photo © Exploratorium, www.exploratorium.edu. Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

Optical FlatPrice

1. Play with this Wave Interference simulation, created by the PhET team at the University of Colorado. Some things to try, for each type of wave: put in a one-slit barrier, change the wavelength, change the width of the slit. What variations cause the most diffraction (wave spreading out the most). Then try putting in a two-slit barrier. Again vary the wavelength, and also the slit separation. On the Light tab, hit the "show screen" button and notice the alternating bright and dark areas on the screen.

How to use anoptical flat

Optical flatmeasurement

The automotive industry continues to innovate, and Mitutoyo delivers the advanced inspection and scanning capabilities to help manufacturers achieve ongoing production

Optical FlatFilter

To protect patient well-being, medical applications require exceptional accuracy. See how extensively tested solutions from Mitutoyo can help you achieve it.

Complex aerospace applications need fast, extremely precise quality control to ensure accurate assemblies. See how Mitutoyo makes it happen

What counts as "small" depends on the wavelength. If the hole is smaller than the wavelength, then the wavefronts coming out of the hole will be circular. Therefore, longer wavelengths diffract more than shorter wavelengths.

OpticalFlats for sale

If plane waves come to a barrier that has two holes, the diffracted waves emerging from those holes will overlap and interfere with each other. The resulting pattern of alternating constructive and destructive interference is reminiscent of Moiré patterns. As shown in the following graphics, the pattern is more spread out when (1) the holes are closer together, or (2) the waves are of longer wavelengths.

6. Design an experiment to determine the wavelength of a laser, using a grating with known spacing (d), a wall and some metersticks. Derive an equation for the wavelength, and then describe the procedure you would follow.

Mitutoyo’s measurement and analysis solutions are designed to help energy providers improve reliability and increase equipment uptime.

Mitutoyo OEM can address missing expertise or resources by supplying you with our renowned Metrology equipment that seamlessly integrates into your products.

For an overview of Mitutoyo's capabilities, this is no greater place to look than our marvelous collection of case studies.

Optical FlatMitutoyo

The spreading out of waves when they pass an obstacle is called diffraction. Smaller holes cause waves to diffract more. If the hole is small, the waves coming through the hole will spread out (diverge) again, as if the hole were a point source of waves, like a rock thrown into a pond.

Imagine plane wavefronts moving toward a wall with a hole in it. If the hole is very wide, the waves coming through the hole will be mostly flat, but will curve outward (i.e. diverge) slightly.

5. The diffraction grating we use in class has a spacing of 750 slits per mm. That is, the distance from one slit to the next (d) is 1/750th of a mm. (a) If you shine a violet laser (wavelength 405 nm) through the grating, at what angle do you get the "first-order" (n=1) bright spot? (NOTE: you will need to use the inverse-sine ("arcsine") function of your calculator.) At what angle is the second-order (n=2) bright spot? (b) If you shine the laser perpendicular to a screen and through the grating located 2.0 meters from the screen, how many cm from the central bright spot (n=0) will the first-order spot be?

Diffraction happens with all kinds of waves, including ocean waves, sound and light. Here's an aerial photo of ocean waves diffracting as they pass through a gap in a causeway.