interferometer

[ in-ter-fuh-rom-i-ter ]

noun

1. Optics. a device that separates a beam of light into two ray beams, usually by means of reflection, and that brings the rays together to produce interference, used to measure wavelength, index of refraction, and astronomical distances.
2. Astronomy. an instrument for measuring the angular separation of double stars or the diameter of giant stars by means of the interference phenomena of light emitted by these stars.

interferometer

/ ˌɪntəˌfɛrəˈmɛtrɪk; ˌɪntəfəˈrɒmɪtə /

noun

1. physics any acoustic, optical, or microwave instrument that uses interference patterns or fringes to make accurate measurements of wavelength, wave velocity, distance, etc
2. astronomy a radio or optical array consisting of two or more telescopes separated by a known distance and connected so that the radiation from a source in space undergoes interference, enabling the source to be imaged or the position of the source to be accurately determined

interferometer

/ ĭn′tər-fə-rŏm′ĭ-tər /

1. Any of several optical, acoustic, or radio frequency instruments that use interference phenomena between a reference wave and an experimental wave or between two parts of an experimental wave to determine wavelengths and wave velocities, measure very small distances and thicknesses, and calculate indices of refraction.

Derived Forms

• ˌinterferˈometry, noun
• ˌinterˌferoˈmetrically, adverb
• interferometric, adjective

Other Words From

• in·ter·fer·o·met·ric [in-ter-feer-, uh, -, me, -trik], adjective
• inter·fero·metri·cal·ly adverb
• inter·fer·ome·try noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of interferometer¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; interfere + -o- + -meter

Example Sentences

By combining and processing the resulting patterns from many pairs of telescopes, an interferometer can assemble a detailed image of the source.

From Science Magazine

The team developed a photon-level interferometer that accurately records the statistics of photon counting, showcasing a signal-to-noise ratio at the fundamental limit.

From Science Daily

"Our method overcomes the challenges of traditional spectral thermal imagers, which are often bulky and delicate due to their reliance on large filter wheels or interferometers," said research team leader Zubin Jacob from Purdue University.

From Science Daily

However, producing images with an interferometer like the ones we are used to obtaining from single telescopes is not straightforward and very time-consuming.

From Science Daily

According to quantum mechanics, if a photon is fired from the interferometer's starting point, through a beamsplitter, the particle should travel down one of the two corridors with equal probability.

From Science Daily