Statistical estimation method for phase shift in generalized two-step phase-shifting interferometry

Based on the statistical property of the phase and the spatial frequency relationship between the object and reference waves, a simple estimation method for phase shift extraction is proposed for generalized two-step phase-shifting interferometry. In this method, a phase shift constrained within 0- is firstly worked out with statistics, and then it is corrected as its principal value within the range (0, 2) except the singular value of , according to the sign of tangent form of one half of the relative phase shift. Thus, this method provides a possible method to solve the uncertainty of the phase shift existing in some common algorithms. After the determination of the phase shift, a phase can be retrieved easily. The feasibility and the accuracy of the method were verified by numerical simulations and an optical experiment. In addition, this method is applicable to two or more frames off-axis generalized PSI, including slightly off-axis situation.