OPTICAL CONFIGURATION IN SPECKLE SHEAR INTERFEROMETRY FOR SLOPE CHANGE CONTOURING WITH A TWOFOLD INCREASE IN SENSITIVITY

We present a novel optical configuration that yields a fringe pattern that represents the slope changes of a three-dimensional object with a twofold increase in sensitivity. The method offers controllable sensi tivity over a wide range. We accomplish it by modifying the in-plane d isplacement sensitive configuration of speckle interferometry. The det ailed theory and the experimental results are presented with a brief d iscussion on the limiting aspects of the configuration. (C) 1998 Optic al Society of America.