 Michelson stellar interferometer

The Michelson stellar interferometer, associated with Albert Abraham Michelson, uses separated collectors and beam-redirection optics to produce interference fringes. The collector spacing determines sensitivity to a stellar angular diameter, independently of the final beam spacing at the combiner. The first null for a uniform disk is $D=1.21967\lambda /\alpha$, where $\alpha$ is the full angular diameter. Different surface-brightness laws, including limb darkening, change the null.

The Michelson stellar interferometer is an astronomical instrument used to measure the properties of celestial objects, particularly their angular diameters and surfaces. It is based on the principle of interference of light waves, originally developed by Albert A. Michelson in the late 19th century. The design consists of two main parts: two mirrors and a beam splitter. ### Key Components: 1. **Beam Splitter**: A device that divides incoming light from a star into two separate beams.