Abstract

A general theory relating continuous monotonic refractive-index inhomogeneities to the interference pattern produced by a Mach–Zehnder interferometer is specialized to a one-dimensional refractive-index distribution using power-series expansions for the refractive index and ray traces. The coefficients of the series are related to derivatives of the observed interference pattern. Practical interferogram-evaluation equation result that apply for any selected object plane and incorporate necessary corrections. Errors of the evaluation equations are discussed. The effect of misalignment, or lateral extension, of the light source is demonstrated. The phenomenon of, and conditions for, apparent ray-crossing are discussed. The effects of test-section windows are shown to be negligible. Other effects arising in practical applications are mentioned.

© 1966 Optical Society of America

Hologram Interferometry*†

Karl A. Stetson and Robert L. Powell
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 56(9) 1161-1163 (1966)

Spectroscopic Temperature Profile Measurements in Inhomogeneous Hot Gases

Burton Krakow
Appl. Opt. 5(2) 201-209 (1966)

Erratum: Optical Interferometry of Inhomogeneous Gases

W. L. Howes and D. R. Buchele
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 57(7) 971-971 (1967)

Third-Order Aberrations of Inhomogeneous Lenses

P. J. Sands
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 60(11) 1436-1443 (1970)

Use of the Curtis–Godson Approximation in Calculations of Radiant Heating by Inhomogeneous Hot Gases

Burton Krakow, Harold J. Babrov, G. Jordan Maclay, and Abraham L. Shabott
Appl. Opt. 5(11) 1791-1800 (1966)