A simple double-source model for interference of capillaries

A simple but physically intuitive double-source model is proposed to explain the interferogram of a laser-capillary system, where two effective virtual sources are used to describe the rays reflected by and transmitted through the capillary. The locations of the two virtual sources are functions of the observing positions on the target screen. An inverse proportionality between the fringes spacing and the capillary radius is derived based on the simple double-source model. This can provide an efficient and precise method to measure a small capillary diameter of micrometre scale. This model could be useful because it presents a fresh perspective on the diffraction of light from a particular geometry (transparent cylinder), which is not straightforward for undergraduates. It also offers an alternative interferometer to perform a different type of measurement, especially for using virtual sources. (paper)