interferometer

An interferometer is a scientific instrument used to measure very small distances and changes by observing the interference patterns of light waves. It works by splitting a beam of light into two paths, then recombining them. When the two beams meet again, they create patterns of bright and dark spots due to their waves overlapping. These patterns change based on tiny shifts in distance or other factors, allowing researchers to make precise measurements. Interferometers are commonly used in fields like astronomy, telecommunications, and materials science to explore and quantify various phenomena.