Comparison of Interferometry Applications: Michelson vs. Sagnac Interferometers

Abstract

An interferometer is a crucial instrument for collecting information on interference patterns, widely used in both scientific and industrial applications. This paper was focused on comparing the interferometric applications of the Michelson and Sagnac interferometers. The Michelson interferometer, characterized by its double-path setup, and the Sagnac interferometer, which operates on a common-path principle, were analyzed. Experiments were conducted to capture interference patterns of different samples using both interferometers. In the first experiment, the image fringes of the alphabet characters (K, M, I, T, and L) were captured, while in the second, fingerprint patterns were captured. The results showed that both interferometers produced similar fringes for the alphabet characters, although the Sagnac interferometer exhibited a higher circular frequency. In the fingerprint experiment, the Michelson interferometer produced linear fringes. This study highlights the distinct fringe patterns generated by each interferometer when different samples are analyzed, providing valuable insights into their diverse applications.