10 November 2022 Characterization of terahertz wavefront aberrations using computational shear-interferometry
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

We propose a new solution for sensing a terahertz (THz) wavefront based on a THz reference-less shear interferometer. The key component of the experimental configuration of the proposed interferometer is a THz Ronchi phase grating (RPG). The RPG is custom designed and fabricated for a 0.28 THz source using mechanical milling on a block of high-density polyethylene with a computer numerical control machine. It acts as a shearing element that generates two diffraction orders, thereby, creating two laterally shifted copies of the investigated wavefront in the sensor plane where a THz camera is placed. The direction of the shear can be varied by rotating the grating. Since the grating is a phase grating, the diffraction efficiency is very high. The approach is verified experimentally by demonstrating interferograms of a spherical wave and wavefront reconstruction from five different shears using a gradient-based iterative process.

© 2022 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)
Mostafa Agour, Claas Falldorf, Fatima Taleb, Enrique Castro-Camus, Martin Koch, and Ralf B. Bergmann "Characterization of terahertz wavefront aberrations using computational shear-interferometry," Optical Engineering 61(11), 114102 (10 November 2022). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.61.11.114102
Received: 18 July 2022; Accepted: 25 October 2022; Published: 10 November 2022
Advertisement
Advertisement
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission  Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace
KEYWORDS
Terahertz radiation

Wavefronts

Spherical lenses

Cameras

Diffraction gratings

Diffraction

Wavefront aberrations

Back to Top