Application of matched digital filters to noisy fringe-patterns from complex wavefronts

Abstract

A new technique for processing of noisy fringe patterns with complex fringe shapes is presented . The technique is based in exploiting the capabilities of digital filters, treating the fringe-pattern as a signal to be processed. The main parameters required for designing the filter, and the application of the design methodology to a particular experimental fringe pattern are described in detail. To conclude, the designed filter is applied to experimental noisy fringe-patterns both from complex and simple wavefronts, which are processed without a single change in the parameters of the algorithms. The procedure is completely general, with a very small computational cost, and may be extended to any noisy fringe-pattern to be processed given the fringes are still visible.