Abstract

The wavefront of a beam reflected from a metal surface has random variations in phase due to microsurface roughness. If this beam is multiply reflected from the surface, the combined beams will average out the random variations in intensity, while increasing the contrast of fringes that arise due to macrovariations in surface flatness. We present results of holographic interferometric experiments using a multiply reflected object beam at a glancing angle in the surface of machined metal surfaces.

© 1989 Optical Society of America