Measurement of wave fronts without a Reference Standard: Part 1. The wave-front-shearing interferometer

Abstract

The wave-front-shearing interferometer may be used to test any converging wave front regardless of whether or not it is symmetrical. A mat hematica l operation i described that permits complcte analys is of the data. This operation yields values of the deviation s of wave fronts und er test from a close fi tting sph er e. The reference sur face may be chosen statistically so that the r es ults are the deviations from a best fitting sphere.