Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor versus Fizeau interferometer for laser beam measurements

The problem of wavefront measurements is one of the most important tasks in the modern optics and laser physics. There are lots of different tools for wavefront measurement. And the user might choose any type of instrument which could solve certain task. The devices for wavefront analysis differ from each other not only by setup and by processing algorithms but also dynamic range and accuracy should be taken into account. The most popular devices are Shack- Hartmann wavefront sensor and various types of interferometers. In this paper we compare Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor with Fizeau interferometer; classical analysis of interferograms (based on measurement of the fringe centers position) and phase-shifting methods are also compared. Advantages and disadvantages of three methods are discussed.