Self-referencing cyclic shearing interferometer for collimation testing

Abstract

We present here a self-referencing dual-field cyclic shearing interferometer for collimation testing. To generate the two fields, one of the two mirrors of a cyclic shearing interferometer is replaced by a double mirror. Ray tracing is carried out to determine conditions for obtaining fringe patterns suitable for self-referencing. Actual fringe patterns obtained in a self-referencing cyclic shearing interferometer are shown and the setting sensitivity of the interferometer is determined.