Software calibration of the multifringe pattern analysis of circular zone plates.

The linearized perturbation method for fringe pattern analysis and its extension to multifringe analysis have been recently introduced [Hilaire, Ph.D. dissertation (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., 1993)]. For isolating the error component that is due to information processing-as opposed to image-acquisition errors-experimental calibration experiments were conducted by use of computer-generated fringe patterns. The effects of noise, fringe completeness, image resolution, illumination, quantization, and displacement magnitude are tested and discussed in evaluating the software's performance and accuracy.