An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

An optical instrument using laser → beams to form → interference pattern.

There are two types of laser interferometers: → homodyne and → heterodyne. A homodyne interferometer, like → Michelson interferometer, uses a single-frequency laser source.

A → heterodyne interferometer uses a laser source with two close frequencies.

See also: → laser; → interferometer.