A Laser Beam with Wavelength 10 $\mu$ M Is Split into Two Beams by a Beam Splitter

question 47

Multiple Choice

A laser beam with wavelength 10.6 $\mu$ m is split into two beams by a beam splitter in a Michelson interferometer.One beam goes to Mirror 1,a distance L from the beam splitter,and returns to the beam splitter while the other beam goes to Mirror 2,a distance L + $\Delta$ x from the beam splitter,and returns to the same beam splitter.The beams then recombine and go to a detector together.If L = 1.00000 m and $\Delta$ x = 1.20000 mm,which best describes the kind of interference at the detector?

• A)purely constructive
• B)purely destructive
• C)mostly constructive
• D)mostly destructive
• E)neither constructive nor destructive