Phase shifting interferometer
Abstract
An interferometer which has the capability of measuring optical elements and systems with an accuracy of .lambda./1000 where .lambda. is the wavelength of visible light. Whereas current interferometers employ a reference surface, which inherently limits the accuracy of the measurement to about .lambda./50, this interferometer uses an essentially perfect spherical reference wavefront generated by the fundamental process of diffraction. Whereas current interferometers illuminate the optic to be tested with an aberrated wavefront which also limits the accuracy of the measurement, this interferometer uses an essentially perfect spherical measurement wavefront generated by the fundamental process of diffraction. This interferometer is adjustable to give unity fringe visibility, which maximizes the signal-to-noise, and has the means to introduce a controlled prescribed relative phase shift between the reference wavefront and the wavefront from the optics under test, which permits analysis of the interference fringe pattern using standard phase extraction algorithms.
- Inventors:
-
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 872426
- Patent Number(s):
- 5933236
- Assignee:
- Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01B - MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01J - MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRA-RED, VISIBLE OR ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- phase; shifting; interferometer; capability; measuring; optical; elements; systems; accuracy; lambda; 1000; wavelength; visible; light; current; interferometers; employ; reference; surface; inherently; limits; measurement; 50; essentially; perfect; spherical; wavefront; generated; fundamental; process; diffraction; illuminate; optic; tested; aberrated; adjustable; unity; fringe; visibility; maximizes; signal-to-noise; means; introduce; controlled; prescribed; relative; shift; optics; permits; analysis; interference; pattern; standard; extraction; algorithms; measuring optical; reference surface; relative phase; phase shifting; phase shift; optical element; optical elements; visible light; fringe pattern; spherical reference; reference wavefront; reference wave; interference fringe; essentially perfect; phase extraction; current interferometers; interferometers employ; /356/
Citation Formats
Sommargren, Gary E. Phase shifting interferometer. United States: N. p., 1999.
Web.
Sommargren, Gary E. Phase shifting interferometer. United States.
Sommargren, Gary E. Fri .
"Phase shifting interferometer". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872426.
@article{osti_872426,
title = {Phase shifting interferometer},
author = {Sommargren, Gary E},
abstractNote = {An interferometer which has the capability of measuring optical elements and systems with an accuracy of .lambda./1000 where .lambda. is the wavelength of visible light. Whereas current interferometers employ a reference surface, which inherently limits the accuracy of the measurement to about .lambda./50, this interferometer uses an essentially perfect spherical reference wavefront generated by the fundamental process of diffraction. Whereas current interferometers illuminate the optic to be tested with an aberrated wavefront which also limits the accuracy of the measurement, this interferometer uses an essentially perfect spherical measurement wavefront generated by the fundamental process of diffraction. This interferometer is adjustable to give unity fringe visibility, which maximizes the signal-to-noise, and has the means to introduce a controlled prescribed relative phase shift between the reference wavefront and the wavefront from the optics under test, which permits analysis of the interference fringe pattern using standard phase extraction algorithms.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1999},
month = {1}
}