title: Simple and versatile heterodyne whole-field interferometer for phase optics characterization.
abstract: A wavefront sensor for thermally induced lens and passive lens characterization based on low-coherence digital speckle interferometry was developed and studied. By illuminating the optical setup with two slightly detuned red diode lasers, whole-field contour interference fringes were generated according to the resulting synthetic wavelength. For fringe pattern visualization the optical setup used the light transmitted through a ground glass plate as object beam. The performance of the sensor was investigated and its versatility was demonstrated by measuring the thermal lens induced in an Er-doped glass sample pumped by a 1.76-W diode laser emitting at 976 nm and by evaluating the wavefront distortion introduced by an ophthalmic progressive lens.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (CNEN-IPEN/SP), CEP 005508-000 São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: N U
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Wetter