Mach-Zehnder interferometer

A Mach-Zehnder interferometer is a device that splits a beam of light into two paths using mirrors and beam splitters. These two light paths may experience different conditions, then are recombined to create an interference pattern—bright and dark fringes—depending on their relative phase difference. By analyzing these patterns, the device can detect very small changes in distance, index of refraction, or other physical properties. It's widely used in scientific measurements, quantum experiments, and fiber-optic systems for precise sensing and signal processing.