Abstract
Along with classical interferometers based on the principle of amplitude division
of the light wave and creation of working and reference wave fronts, there are also
interferometers, known as shearing interferometers, that are based on the principle of
shearing the amplitude-split working wave front. They require no reference optical
elements and are insensitive to vibrations. The main disadvantage of traditional
shearing interferometers is the lack of obviousness and the comparative difficulty of
interpreting the interference pattern in order to quantitatively evaluate the errors of
the system being investigated. This paper is devoted to a solution of the indicated
problem and opens up the path of computerized automatic interpretation of
interferograms. This substantially simplifies the interpretation operations, makes them
more efficient and obvious, and makes it possible to determine the quantitative
characteristics of the errors and the quality of the system being investigated. This
creates the conditions for using shearing interferometers in wide practice.
© 2008 Optical Society of America
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