Measurement of optical thickness variation of BK7 plate by wavelength tuning interferometry

This paper presents the derivation of a 17-sample phase-shifting algorithm that can compensate the miscalibration and first-order nonlinearity of phase shift error, coupling error, and bias modulation of the intensity and satisfy the fringe contrast maximum condition. The phase error of measurements performed using the 17-sample algorithm is discussed and compared with those of measurements obtained using other algorithms. Finally, the optical thickness variation of a BK7 optically transparent plate obtained using a wavelength tuning Fizeau interferometer and the 17-sample algorithm are presented. The experimental results indicate that the optical thickness variation measurement accuracy for the BK7 plate was 3 nm.