Abstract
We outline the basic theory behind white light interferometry and the workings of a typical light interferometer microscope. We study WLI images obtained for rough and smooth chrome steel spheres to illustrate the principle that curved rough surfaces can be imaged with such a device as long as the surface roughness is kept within certain limits.
Highlights
In materials science and experimental physics, we often need to quantitatively determine fine peak to peak roughness of a solid surface
We outline the basic theory behind white light interferometry and the workings of a typical light interferometer microscope
We study WLI images obtained for rough and smooth chrome steel spheres to illustrate the principle that curved rough surfaces can be imaged with such a device as long as the surface roughness is kept within certain limits
Summary
In materials science and experimental physics, we often need to quantitatively determine fine peak to peak roughness of a solid surface. The basic physics behind WLI (white light interferometry) is standard and should be known to students who have studied optics at introductory level [3]. Another interesting study considered the influence of surface roughness on measurement uncertainty for WLI [9].
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