Phase Estimation in Optical Interferometry

Phase Estimation in Optical Interferometry covers the essentials of phase-stepping algorithms used in interferometry and pseudointerferometric techniques. It presents the basic concepts and mathematics needed for understanding the phase estimation methods in use today. The first four chapters focus on phase retrieval from image transforms using a single frame. The next several chapters examine the local environment of a fringe pattern, give a broad picture of the phase estimation approach based on local polynomial phase modeling, cover temporal high-resolution phase evaluation methods, and present methods of phase unwrapping. The final chapter discusses experimental imperfections that are liable to adversely influence the accuracy of phase measurements. Responding to the push for the deployment of novel technologies and fast-evolving techniques, this book provides a framework for understanding various modern phase estimation methods. It also helps readers get a comparative view of the performance and limitations of the approaches.