Uncertainty analysis of temporal phase-stepping algorithms for interferometry

We have addressed the problem of the uncertainty evaluation of phase values rendered by two popular algorithms: the N-bucket and the (N + 1)-bucket, both used to exploit temporal phase-stepping techniques. These algorithms, are mainly affected by errors in the calibration of the piezoelectric transducers used to achieve the phase shift, external vibration and optical noise. We have characterized and compared the influences of these errors on the phase uncertainty. We applied a Monte Carlo-based technique of uncertainty propagation that allowed us to consider in the uncertainty evaluation the simultaneous contributions of different error sources. The uncertainty evaluation was performed for phase values in the range (0, 2π), with different values of N and assuming that the phase was calculated from fringe patterns generated by using either Moiré interferometry or electronic speckle-pattern interferometry. We found that the uncertainties associated with the phases rendered by both algorithms are similar and they can be significantly affected by the optical noise and the value of N.