Role of boundary conditions in phase estimation by transport of intensity equation

The role of perimeter measurements in phase retrieval methods based on the transport of intensity equation will be analysed in the context of modal es timation (for non-uniform intensity distributions). The modal coefficients are evaluated as weighted integrals of both the intensity derivative inside the pupil domain and the boundary slopes of the wave front. Without loss o f generality in the qualitative results, the behaviour of the domain integr al will be studied for two particular non-uniform irradiance distributions: gaussian and parabolic profiles. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.