Introduction to
Interferometric Optical Testing

Overview

• This short course introduces the field of interferometric optical testing. Topics covered include basic interferometers for optical testing, concepts of phase-shifting interferometry, testing of flats, spheres, windows, prisms, and corner cubes, long wavelength interferometry, testing of aspheric surfaces, measurement of surface microstructure, and absolute measurements of flats, spheres, and surface roughness.

Intended Audience

• Engineers, scientists, and managers who need to understand modern interferometric optical testing techniques and the advantages and disadvantages of the various optical tests.

Learning Objectives

This course will enable participants to:

• Explain the basic concepts of interferometric optical testing

• Appreciate the power, capabilities, and limitations of phase-shifting interferometry

• Know how to do interferometric optical testing in the presence of vibration and turbulence

• Understand techniques for testing mirrors, lenses, windows, prisms, and corner cubes

• Appreciate interferometric measurements of index inhomogeneity

• Compare and understand different aspheric testing techniques

• Understand capabilities and techniques for measuring surface microstructure

• Understand methods for performing absolute measurements of flat surfaces, spherical surfaces, and surface roughness

• Describe the current state-of-the-art of direct phase measurement interferometers

Course Outline

Introductory remarks

Basic interferometers for Optical Testing

• Two beam interference

• Fizeau and Twyman-Green interferometers

• Basic techniques for testing flat and spherical surfaces

• Mach-Zehnder, Scatterplate, and Smartt interferometers

• Shearing interferometers

• Typical interferograms

Phase-Shifting Interferometry

• Elementary analysis of interferograms

• Basic algorithms

• Removing phase ambiguities

• Single shot phase-shifting (Reducing effects of vibration)

Specialized Optical tests

• Testing windows, prisms, and corner cubes

• Measuring radius of curvature

• Measuring index inhomogeneity

• Testing cylindrical surfaces

Long Wavelength Interferometry

• Wavelengths of primary interest

• Testing infrared transmitting optics

• Testing optically rough surfaces

Testing of aspherical surfaces

• Description of aspheric surfaces

• Techniques for testing aspheric surfaces

• Requirements for use of optical analysis software in optical testing

• Limitations of current aspheric testing techniques

Measurement of Surface Microstructure

• Non-contact optical profilers

• White light interferometry

• Vertical scanning optical profilers

Absolute Measurements

• Flat surfaces

• Spherical surfaces

• Surface roughness

Concluding Remarks

• Limitations of direct phase measurement interferometers

• Most important to remember

• References

Contact:

Ms. Cindy Robertson

520-626-4719

cindyr@optics.arizona.edu

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