Spherical Mirror Fabry-Perot Resonators

Abstract

An experimental investigation of the Fabry-Perot interfometer (FPS) using spherical mirrors is reported. The FPS was operated as a microwave resonant cavity at 60 to 70 Gc. Measurements were made of the loss and coupling as a function of mirror spacing. The electric field variation within the resonator was also measured. Other characteristics of the spherical Fabry-Perot resonator were observed and are discussed. A qualitative discussion of the behavior of a spheroidal cavity resonator is presented and its relation to the FPS and beam waveguide is demonstrated.