Radial-shearing interferometric imaging with Theon-Kepler bifocal telescope

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Interferometry
• Telescope Design

Background:

• Radial-shearing interferometry is a key technique in optical metrology.
• Existing methods may have limitations in environmental stability and complexity.
• Bifocal optical systems offer unique light manipulation capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a new method for radial-shearing interferometric imaging.
• To introduce the Theon-Kepler bifocal telescope for interferometry.
• To demonstrate a simple and robust interferometric setup.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a Theon-Kepler bifocal telescope composed of two identical Theon photon sieves.
• Configuring the telescope with specific overlapping focal lengths to create two 4f systems.
• Inducing radial-shearing interference between two plane waves of different sizes emitted by the bifocal telescope.

Main Results:

• The proposed system naturally forms two sets of 4f systems.
• Incident plane waves are transformed into two beams of different sizes for interference.
• The common-path setup ensures simplicity and high anti-interference ability.

Conclusions:

• The Theon-Kepler bifocal telescope provides an effective platform for radial-shearing interferometry.
• The method is characterized by a simple setup and low environmental requirements.
• The interferometer exhibits strong anti-interference capabilities, making it suitable for various applications.