DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF OPTICAL VIRTUAL SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS BASED ON MIXED REALITY: A CASE STUDY OF MICHELSON INTERFEROMETER

To address the limitations of insufficient three-dimensional optical path visualization and restricted operational freedom in traditional optical virtual simulation experiments, this study proposes a mixed reality-based solution. By integrating the Unity Engine, Matlab simulation algorithms, and the HoloLens2 mixed reality hardware platform, we have constructed a virtual-physical fusion experimental environment that achieves high-degree freedom optical simulations with real-time multimodal interaction. During system development, strict adherence to geometric optics and wave optics theories ensures authentic simulation of optical phenomena and immersive experimental processes, implemented through Unity engine's particle system and collision detection modules. Additionally, an intelligent experimental data analysis module, incorporating an error tracing functionality, has been introduced to help students identify the sources of experimental error and optimize experimental procedures. The implementation of the Michelson interferometer case demonstrates that the mixed reality-based optical virtual simulation system breaks through the one-way operation limitations of traditional simulations. By expanding operational freedom and implementing multi-sensory (visual, auditory, and tactile) interactive design, it significantly enhances students' understanding of optical phenomena and their exploratory capabilities. This approach shows considerable potential for broader application in physics education.