A Self-aligning Interferometer Suitable for White or Monochromatic Light Consisting Solely of a Mirror and a Reflection Grating

Abstract

A simple interferometer constructed from a mirror and a reflection grating is described. This interferometer can operate with monochromatic or wideband light, and versions of it may be constructed to suit radiations other than light, such as sound waves or matter waves. A most unusual feature of the interferometer is its high tolerance to large misalignments of its optical elements.