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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
Relative intensity: normalized intensity as determined by the ratio between the intensity and its maximum value
Phase shift: characterizes the temporal shift between two light waves
Michelson interferometer: device splitting a light wave in two perpendicular paths, each split wave being reflected back and recombined with the other for interfering