Recording and processing of interferograms by spectral characterization of the interferometric setup

 This paper describes how the scale of experimental tints of an interferometer using a known white light source and a Wollaston prism is reproduced on a microcomputer equipped with an image processing board. Taking the spectral characteristics of the light source and the three RGB camera filters into account, it is possible to analytically express the luminous intensity of the interference fringes as a function of the path difference and to reproduce the experimentally visualized colours on the monitor. The knowledge of the interferometer colour scale allows to optimize the prism position when recording the interferograms and to process them automatically with very high accuracy. Received: 3 May 1995/Accepted: 26 January 1997