Interference contrast
The interference contrast describes the visibility ( contrast ) of an interference phenomenon quantitatively. It is defined as the ratio of the intensities of two consecutive maxima and minima:
- The optimal value is 1; in the case of the interference phenomenon being completely unrecognizable, it is 0.
- This definition assumes that the mean intensity is the same . Then the amplitude is the same as the intensity . Thus applies: .
- In the case of interference from light, the source-dependent coherence length is usually the limiting factor.
The interference contrast is especially important for interferometry , holography and phase contrast microscopy .