There are two different methods of producing coherent sources:
- By division of the wavefront
- Young's Double-Slit Experiment: A single source of monochromatic light illuminates a barrier with two closely spaced slits. The light emerging from these two slits acts as coherent sources.
- Fresnel's Biprism Method: A single wavefront is refracted through two adjacent, acute-angled prisms to produce two coherent virtual sources
- By division of the amplitude
- Newton's Rings: Light reflects back and forth between a spherical lens and a flat glass plate, dividing the amplitude to produce a coherent interference pattern.
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Michelson's Interferometer: A beam splitter divides the amplitude of a light beam into two paths, which are then reflected by mirrors and recombined to create interference.