Optical path

The figure shows the optical path of a Mirau-objective respectively a Mirau-interferometer. Reference beam (4 to 6) and object beam (7) have identical optical path length and can thus cause white light interference.

Optical path (OP) is the trajectory that a light ray follows as it propagates through an optical medium. The geometrical optical-path length or simply geometrical path length (GPD) is the length of a segment in a given OP, i.e., the Euclidean distance integrated along a ray between any two points.^[1] The mechanical length of an optical device can be reduced to less than the GPD by using folded optics. The optical path length in a homogeneous medium is the GPD multiplied by the refractive index of the medium.

Factors affecting optical path[]

Path of light in medium, or between two media is affected by the following:

Reflection
- Total internal reflection
Refraction
Dispersion of light
Absorption

Simple materials used[]

Lenses
Prisms
Mirrors
Transparent materials (e.g. optical filters)
Translucent materials (e.g. frosted glass)
Opaque materials

References[]

^ Bass, M.; DeCusatis, C.; Enoch, J.M.; Lakshminarayanan, V.; Li, G.; MacDonald, C.; Mahajan, V.N.; Van Stryland, E. (2009). Handbook of Optics, Third Edition Volume I: Geometrical and Physical Optics, Polarized Light, Components and Instruments(set). Handbook of Optics. McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 978-0-07-162925-6. Retrieved 2021-10-11.

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[Bass2009-1] Bass, M.; DeCusatis, C.; Enoch, J.M.; Lakshminarayanan, V.; Li, G.; MacDonald, C.; Mahajan, V.N.; Van Stryland, E. (2009). Handbook of Optics, Third Edition Volume I: Geometrical and Physical Optics, Polarized Light, Components and Instruments(set). Handbook of Optics. McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 978-0-07-162925-6. Retrieved 2021-10-11.

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