Optical tests with Bessel beam interferometry

In this paper we demonstrate how Bessel beam interferometry can be used to characterize the curvature of a reflecting surface. The approach is based on the fact that the intensity distribution produced by the coherent superposition of Bessel beams is a sensitive function of the relative phases between the constituting beams. We show how this phase sensitivity can translate into accurate measurements of the curvature of a wavefront. Experimental tests were made with a liquid mirror. We have also used Bessel beams to measure the precession angle of the liquid mirror. Our results show that Bessel beam interferometry is a very accurate tool for the optical testing of non-stationary surfaces and that it could be used as a general method of real-time, non-contact sensing. Bessel beam interferometry has the advantage of not requiring any reference arm that needs to be stabilized.