Glossary
- Interference: superposition of light waves whose resulting intensity depends on the phase shifts between them
- Wavelength ( of a light wave ): distance between two consecutive identical states of the electric ( or magnetic ) field
- Fabry Perot interferometer: multi-wave interferometer made of a parallel plate which surfaces have a non null reflectivity
- Reflectance: reflection coefficient related to the intensity
- Refraction index: for a transparent medium, ratio between the light speed in the air and the light speed in the medium ; for a reflective surface in the air or vacuum, the refraction index is « - 1 »
- Angle of incidence: angle of a light ray incident on a surface with the normal to the surface
- Free spectral range ( Fabry Perot ): distance between two consecutive longitudinal modes
- Resonant wavelength of a Fabry Perot: see longitudinal mode
- FWHM: full width half maximum
- Finesse of a Fabry Perot: coefficient characterizing the spectral selectivity of a Fabry Perot and approximately equal to the ratio between the free spectral range and the linewidth of a resonant mode