White-light interferometry

White-light interferometry is a technique that uses light from a broad spectrum, like sunlight, to measure small distances or surface irregularities. It works by splitting a light beam into two paths: one reflects off a sample, while the other reflects off a reference surface. When the two beams are combined again, they create an interference pattern, which looks like alternating bright and dark lines. Analyzing these patterns allows scientists and engineers to precisely determine the features of the sample's surface, making it useful in fields like metrology, astronomy, and materials science.