Photonics Society at UC San Diego

Looking for

Over the past several years, our student org has been making new demos (or putting our own twist on classic ones) related to optics and photonics. Use the chart below to browse our various demos and find the perfect one for your unique situation.

Tap a demo to preview it. Tap again to cycle through overlapping demos.

Michelson Interferometer

See extremely sensitive patterns of light interference.

Budget
$500–$1500
Required tools
2
Manufacturing difficulty
3
Alignment difficulty
5–7
Portability
2–3
Setup time
2–6
Presentation complexity
5–8
Concept complexity
6–8
WOW factor
5–7
What do these scores mean? →

All demos

10 demos
Click a column to sort
Demo
  1. Michelson InterferometerSee extremely sensitive patterns of light interference.Added 2026-11-01$500–1500235–72–32–65–86–85–72026-11-01
  2. Rotating PolarizerSee changes in intensity due to polarization and use these to see colorful birefringence patterns from everyday objects.Added 2026-11-01$20–1003–5405–712–85–75–62026-11-01
  3. Holographic ChocolateDiffractive optics you can eat!Added 2026-10-29$10–3017–8050–11–96–882026-10-29
  4. Laser PuzzleColorful laser alignment game suitable for all ages!Added 2026-10-29$100–10003–85–6244–61–83–582026-10-29
  5. Acousto-optic ModulatorWatch beams of light diffract off sound wavesAdded 2026-10-25$1000–3000234–533–55–88–92–32026-10-25
  6. Schlieren imagingVisualize subtle changes in air pressure and temperature around everyday objectsAdded 2026-10-25$100–30033–442–35–73–85–86–72026-10-25
  7. Zeeman SplittingUse magnetic fields to change the wavelength of lightAdded 2026-10-23$300–10002–34–51–333–57–98–91–22026-10-23
  8. Crookes RadiometerPower mechanical motion using only light.Added 2026-09-24$25–5000050–11–75–85–72026-09-24
  9. Fiber ModesSee the output intensity patterns of single- and multi-mode fiber, and manipulate them using fiber paddles.Added 2026-09-24$50–1001–22–305–62–55–97–842026-09-24
  10. Fabry–Perot Mode FilterWatch the light exiting an optical resonator rapidly cycle through a variety of intricate mode patterns.Added 2026-09-23$250–10002–34533–57–98–92–42026-09-23