Abstract

We present a method to test spherical reflecting surfaces by measuring the deflection of a reflected laser beam from the surface when it is rotated about its center of curvature. A general equation is derived to calculate in polar coordinates the radius as a function of the linear deflection of the beam at the back focal plane of a lens used to collect the reflected light. To evaluate the departures of the surface from the ideal spherical form we also consider the effect of decentering. We present the experimental setup and some results.

© 1989 Optical Society of America