Polarization phase-shifting Newton interferometer without errors caused by polarization crosstalk

This research proposed a polarization phase-shifting Newton interferometer having two designs: phase compensation module and gap enlargement. Where the gap enlargement increases the optical path difference between the reference and object beams and the compensation module pulls the difference back. Based on these two designs, phase errors due to polarization crosstalk are removed. This paper first introduces the measurement theory and a setup for accomplishing the interferometer, it then exhibits the experimental results from applying this setup. The results not only validate the feasibility but also agree the performance of the proposed interferometer. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.