Abstract

Three-hundred and sixty-one Zernike circle polynomials (with radial index N and angular index M so that 0 ≤ N + M ≤ 36, 0 ≤ M ≤ N, N – M is even) have been least-squares fit to wavefront maps derived from interferograms or synthesized test data. The analysis is based on the assumption that the wavefront aperture is symmetric about the X, Y and 45° axes. This, however, covers a large and useful class of circular or noncircular apertures with circular or noncircular obstructions. The role of aperture symmetry and wavefront manipulation in the analysis is discussed along with the accuracy and convergence of the Zernike circle polynomial representation of the wavefront.

© 1987 Optical Society of America