Image profile upon passage through a Fabry-Perot interferometer of large Fresnel number

Using two independent techniques, a determination is made of the quality of an optical image upon passage through a Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI). Curves relating the Fresnel number, finesse, number of image elements, image frequency spectrum, and FPI transfer function are presented. It is determined that for interferometers of large Fresnel number, the phase shift per transit of each transverse mode plays a dominant role in distortiom of the image, unlike cases of low Fresnel number the power loss per transit is a significant factor. Based in the results, it is concluded that the value of employing an FPI in an configuration is limited by the amount of distortion which can be tolerated.