Nuncius · 2003 · 33 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesPhysicsMetrologyOpticsSpectroscopyInterferometryOptical InstrumentationOptical InstrumentsOptical MetrologyOptical SpectroscopyInterferometric MeasurementInterferometric MetrologyInterferometric SpectroscopyMichelson InterferometerOptical InterferometersOptical InterferometryRefractometry
SUMMARY This is a study of the role of the spectroscope in the making of the interferometer. As Michelson developed interferential refractometry into a multifaceted field of research, he drew on the spectroscope as a complementary instrument, but also highlighted the increased accuracy that interferometry promised. Michelson's primary goal was metrological: to establish the wavelength of specific spectral lines as a new standard of length. This sharpened the contrast with spectroscopes, firstly because Michelson gave different values for wavelength than researchers using gratings, but also because Michelson failed to develop the kind of practices paramount in much spectroscopy: mapping structure.