2018/09/24 by Rigoberto Juarez-Salazar, Ceciibet Mendoza-Rodriguez, Jose E Hernandez-Beltran +3
Computer Science · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing #Advanced Measurement and Metrology Techniques #Optical measurement and interference techniques
paper · doi:10.1088/1361-6404/aae3c2
openalex publication_date 2018/09/24 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
Abstract Interference is an important phenomenon that plays a key role in understanding the properties of light. However, novice students have difficulties with optical interference experiments because fringe-pattern processing algorithms are not a topic of optics courses. The difficulty increases taking into account that the phase shift is usually induced manually and advanced phase-shifting algorithms must be applied. In this paper, the fundamental principles behind seven well-established phase-shifting algorithms are presented. First, five basic algorithms are analyzed: the three-, four-, and n -steps as well as two least-squares algorithms. Then, the advanced iterative algorithm and the generalized phase-shifting are studied. The operation of the algorithms is illustrated by a typical experiment on the Michelson interferometer. This work could be useful as an introductory lesson to the optics laboratory.