Which effect causes fringe contrast reduction when illuminating a Michelson interferometer?

💡 Explanation

Reduced fringe contrast in a Michaelson interferometer results from decreased coherence; because increased source spectral bandwidth lowers the coherence length, the beams destructively interfere. Therefore, bandwidth impairs contrast, rather than quantum efficiency affecting signal levels.

• Which mechanism causes arcing when a high-voltage DC circuit containing substantial inductance is rapidly opened?
• Which consequence results when exceeding the design flow rate in centrifugal pumps?
• Which outcome occurs when rapid depressurization induces a phase transition in a supercritical fluid within piping?
• Which risk markedly increases when a surgical laser's mirrors misalign?
• Which outcome occurs when a pitot tube measures the airspeed of an aircraft encountering freezing rain?
• Which risk increases when anti-reflective coating thickness errors occur?