Optical interference apparatus and method

Abstract

An optical interference device and method for creating an interference spectrum of a light wave. The device includes first optical structure for simultaneously performing wave front division and different phase retardation on the light wave to produce at least two light wave portions. The device includes a second optical structure for interfering the at least two wave portions. The second optical structure is also disposed in the light path, and facilitates creating the interference spectrum. The interference device is conducive for being configured in either a fixed wavelength or tunable wavelength configuration and may be used in optical interferometer, interferometric modulator, interferometric filter, and interferometric laser applications. The interference spectrum is tuned by varying any combination of the medium characteristics of the first and second optical structure (e.g., the index of refraction and, the distance along which the wave travels in the medium.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.