An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Optics: If the intensity in an interference fringe pattern has the maximum and minimum values I_max and I_min, the visibility is defined by the relation ν = (I_max - I_min) / (I_max

• I_min), where 0 ≤ ν ≤ 1. In terms of the intensities of the two interfering waves: ν = 2(I₁ . I₂)^1/2 / (I₁ + I₂).

See also: → fringe; → visibility