title: 3D imaging: wave front sensing utilizing a birefringent crystal
abstract: Utilizing a rotatable thin birefringent crystal and two polarizers, the three-dimensional (3D) wave front of any light wave can be measured conveniently. In first experiments phase-front distortions as small as 15 &mgr;m are detected with a dynamic range of 3 mm and a spatial resolution of 50 &mgr;m. Such a dynamic range and spatial resolution exceed the performance of conventional wave front sensors of, e.g., the Shack-Hartmann type, significantly. Furthermore, the new system is rather insensitive against mechanical instabilities in opposition to interferometric and holographic techniques.
authors.affiliation: University of Osnabruck, Physics Department, D-49069 Osnabruck, Germany.
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Buse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luennemann