I Questions about a Laser Interferometer pattern

AI Thread Summary
An interference pattern can be achieved even if the original laser beam is not split before reuniting, as long as the light maintains coherence. Using two mirrors separated by 2 cm to reflect light from a 500-meter distance can create an interference pattern similar to that of a Michelson interferometer. The pattern will indeed change if one mirror is moved by half a wavelength. The coherence length of a typical laser beam is crucial for this setup, as it determines the maximum distance over which the light waves remain correlated. Overall, careful alignment and control of the mirrors are essential for observing the interference effect.
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Interference without splitting
Is it possible to get an interference pattern if the original laser beam is not splitted before reunited? Can I use 2 mirrors which will be separated 2 cm from each other and they reflect the light from the incident ray 500 meter far which is then reunited to get an interference pattern on a screen, so if I’ll move one mirror half wave length the interference pattern will change on the screen?
 
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snuz2001 said:
Can I use 2 mirrors which will be separated 2 cm from each other and they reflect the light from the incident ray 500 meter far
What is the coherence length of a typical laser beam?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coherence_length
 

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