Fabry–Perot interferometer with random phase inhomogeneities

A study is made of the influence of phase inhomogeneities of mirrors in a Fabry–Perot interferometer on its pass band, average intensity (transfer function) and variance of the intensity fluctuations. A study is made of phase inhomogeneities with a Gaussian statistics and also in the form of a random stop process. In the latter case the role of phase fluctuations increases on expansion of the beam. The results obtained are of interest when a Fabry–Perot interferometer is used as a resonator. An expression is obtained for the Q factor of the resonator and this expression allows for phase inhomogeneities of the mirrors.