We demonstrate the Talbot effect, which is a well-known near- field diffraction effect from periodic structures such as gratings.

The Talbot effect, one of the best-known diffraction effects in relation to gratings, was first observed in 1836 by Henry Fox Talbot. When a periodic structure, e.g. a grating, is illuminated by a plane wave, one can observe the image of the grating at a certain distance (or its multiple) behind the grating. This specific distance is called the Talbot length. Thanks to the automatized free-space propagation technology in VirtualLab Fusion, such effects can be easily and accurately reproduced and analyzed. We demonstrate it with both linear and crossed gratings as examples.

Learn from our optical engineering experts how to use VirtualLab Fusion efficiently. Register for courses in Germany or in the USA now!

Learn from our optical engineering experts how to use VirtualLab Fusion efficiently. Register for both courses or only one, depending on your previous experience working with VirtualLab Fusion.

Since numerous new features are included in our VirtualLab Fusion Winter Release 2019, these courses would be interesting for current users as well.

Jena | 20 – 24 January 2020
USA | 10 – 13 February 2020

With VirtualLab Fusion, especially with the help of non-sequential field tracing, we show the working principle of a white-light Michelson interferometer, and demonstrate how it can be applied for optical metrology.

Since the famous Michelson-Morley experiment in 1887, the Michelson interferometer and its variations have continued to play an important role in optical research. Nowadays, one can still often find optical systems configured in the form of a Michelson interferometer, for example, in coherent scanning interferometry. With VirtualLab Fusion, especially with the help of non-sequential field tracing, we show the working principle of a white-light Michelson interferometer, and demonstrate how it can be applied for optical metrology.