Patent ID: 8018602

Claim:
An interferometry system for testing optical components including those with high aberrations, comprising: a source of a test wavefront, whereby an axial line is defined by a direction of propagation of said wavefront; a reference mirror; a computerized control system and mechanical apparatus responsive thereto for controlling displacement between an optical component under test and said reference mirror, with said optical component under test situated between said source and said reference mirror; and a computerized device including a processor for deriving a substantially complete first-tilt-alignment wavefront metrology of said optical component under test from a plurality of first-tilt-alignment interferograms, wherein, responsive to said computerized control system: said plurality of first-tilt-alignment interferograms is obtained with said optical component under test oriented at a first predetermined tilt angle relative to said propagation of said wavefront; and each of said first-tilt-alignment interferograms is obtained, with said first predetermined tilt angle held fixed, by said mechanical apparatus discretely varying said displacement between said optical component under test and said reference mirror.