Digital holographic testing of biconvex lenses

Lenses are one of the most important optical elements for manipulation of wavefronts. For their proper selection, the wavefronts produced by the lenses should be analyzed. Digital holography is a tool which provides whole-field reconstructions of wavefronts, and here the use of digital holographic interferometry in complete characterization of wavefronts from lenses is investigated. Digital holograms of the wavefront from the test lens are recorded for various positions of the test lens from a point source. The reconstructed phase of the wavefront from the test lens is compared with a digitally inputted wavefront for measurement of parallelism as well as curvature. The focal length of the test lens is computed by measuring the change in curvature of the wavefront for two positions of the test lens. The radius of curvature of the test lens is determined by using the test lens in the reflection mode. Refractive index of the lens material is also determined using this method. Detailed theoretical and experimental analysis is provided.