Haidinger's rings in curved plates

Abstract

The paper describes and illustrates the Haidinger interference patterns observed in curved plates of uniform thickness but of arbitrary form, and discusses their theory. Using an illuminated screen as light source and a limited viewing aperture, it is possible to observe such patterns with curved plates, their configuration depending upon the form of the plate as well as the position of the aperture with reference to the centers of curvature of the surface of the plate. It is pointed out that the interference pattern for a curved plate is geometrically similar in form to the image of the standard Haidinger pattern of circular rings as seen viewed by reflection at the appropriate distance from the curved surface of the shell.