Interference profiles with multiple spherical waves: general case

Characteristics of multiple-beam interference fringes, as in a Fabry-Perot interferometer with monochromatic light, are analyzed. The optical path and the optical-path difference between interfering beams are calculated for the most general case. Different refractive indices in the inner and outer media, and arbitrary locations of the light source and the point of observation, are taken into account. An expression of the impulse response of the system is given. The results obtained from experimental tests confirm the theoretical predictions. 8 references.