Interferometric Sensor Based on Coherent Imaging of Gratings

A sensitive interferometric sensor scheme that is based on coherent imaging of a first phase grating onto a second phase grating, their periods accurately matched, is suggested. Experimental data, obtained with a setup based on the suggested scheme, are presented. The sensor was found capable of measuring an angular tilt of a mirror less than 0.5 ?rad. Compared with a previously suggested measuring scheme, the novelty of the one presented here is the inclusion of a second set of gratings, which eliminates measurement ambiguity. Some characteristics of the sensor scheme are discussed. [Optical Society of America ]