Abstract
Many classical interferometers contain optical elements without axial symmetry, such as a tilted beam-splitter, glass plate or a wedge, whereas inherently modern interferometers, such as holographic and speckle interferometers, often lack an axis of rotational symmetry. We show how the analysis of systems without axial symmetry is greatly facilitated by the use of 4 × 4 transfer matrices and their partitions. Generally, the results include both astigmatic and prismatic terms and are well known from ophthalmology. Many interferometers are modifications of the Michelson interferometer, and application of the theory is discussed with these as specific examples.
© 1983 Optical Society of America
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