OPTIMIZED MULTIWAVELENGTH COMBINATION SOURCES FOR INTERFEROMETRIC USE

We present the use of multiwavelength combination sources in a direct method for improved central fringe identification in a white-light int erferometric system. The optimum wavelength combinations of such sourc es can be obtained by the use of the results of a simple analysis. We find that this multiwavelength technique can greatly reduce the minimu m signal-to-noise ratio required by the system when used to identify t he central fringe, and thus it offers an increased signal resolution. As a result, it is suitable for high-precision measurement purposes as well as for applications in coherence multiplexed interferometric sen sor systems.