Impact of non-ideal factors on the performance of the Michelson-Gires-Tournois Interferometer (MGTI)-based analogue of the Thomas angle in special relativity

Abstract

We investigate the combined impact of two non-ideal factors [(i) Gires-Tournois resonator (GTR) imperfection and (ii) interferometric error] on the performance of a Michelson-Gires-Tournois interferometer (MGTI)-based analogue of the Thomas angle in Special Relativity. We aim to minimize the impacts of these factors to get a <5% overall error in obtaining the Thomas angle from the MGTI. We report that (i) the GTR's imperfect back mirror coating must have a reflectance r₀ ≥ 0.9534 to get a 1% maximum deviation of the mimicked Thomas angle and (ii) the path-length difference interferometric error of the MGTI must be ≤ λ/30 to have a ≥ 95% effective parameter input range.