interferometers
Light-splitting precision instruments
Interferometers are instruments that measure phenomena by combining waves—usually light—and analyzing the interference patterns that result.
When waves overlap, they reinforce or cancel each other in ways that reveal minute differences in distance, velocity, or wavelength.
Interferometers detect gravitational waves, measure the diameter of stars, and test optical components with extraordinary precision: The LIGO interferometer detected ripples in spacetime from colliding black holes.
Coexisting in multiple states
- constructivePromoting positive development
- destructiveCausing severe harm
- phase shiftChange in wave timing
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
wavelength · recombination · amplitude · modulation · standing wave · null · antiphase · visibility
Science of precise quantification
- nanometerMetric unit, billion-fold smaller
- micrometerMillionth of a meter
- picometerTrillionth of a meter
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
accuracy · precision · displacement · distance · thickness · flatness · calibration · gauge
Physicist of optics
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
- spectrometerMeasures electromagnetic radiation properties
- observatoryFacility for celestial study
- detectorDevice that senses
laser · beam splitter · mirror · photodetector · fiber optic · baseline · nulling · stellar
Propagating curvature in spacetime
- astrophysicsPhysics of celestial bodies
- cosmologyStudy of universal structure
- lithographyGrease-based flat plate printing
- semiconductorPartial electrical conductor
geodesy · seismology · gyroscope · spectroscopy · holography · thin film · biosensing · atmospheric
superposition
Coexisting in multiple states
- constructivePromoting positive development
- destructiveCausing severe harm
- phase shiftChange in wave timing
coherence · wavelength · recombination · amplitude · modulation · standing wave · null · antiphase · visibility · contrast
metrology
Science of precise quantification
- nanometerMetric unit, billion-fold smaller
- micrometerMillionth of a meter
- picometerTrillionth of a meter
resolution · accuracy · precision · displacement · distance · thickness · flatness · calibration · gauge · dimensional
Michelson
Physicist of optics
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
- spectrometerMeasures electromagnetic radiation properties
- observatoryFacility for celestial study
detector · laser · beam splitter · mirror · photodetector · fiber optic · baseline · nulling · stellar · radio
gravitational waves
Propagating curvature in spacetime
- astrophysicsPhysics of celestial bodies
- cosmologyStudy of universal structure
- lithographyGrease-based flat plate printing
semiconductor · geodesy · seismology · gyroscope · spectroscopy · holography · thin film · biosensing · atmospheric · astrometry
interferometersrulers
Measuring straightedges; sovereigns
yardsticks · tape measures · approximations · meter sticks · calipers