ABSTRACT
The Mach–Zehnder interferometer was designed over 100 years ago and up to remains one of the most popular optical schemes for recording classic interferograms. The standard optical scheme of a classic Mach–Zehnder interferometer, representing the division of amplitude interferometers, consists of two plane 100% reflection mirrors and two identical plane beam-splitting semitransparent mirrors. Practically any available 35-mm photographic film can be used for recording Mach–Zehnder interferograms. Imaging a phase object on the photographic film requires a mechanism for holding the film, changing a shutter speed, and advancing the film. For these purposes, the most pragmatic approach is to use a standard 35-mm photographic camera. The quality of beam-splitting cubes in the scheme of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer is also responsible for resolution characteristics of recorded interferograms. A conventional camera (without its lens) loaded with ordinary photo film could be successfully used for interference experiments.
