No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

An analysis of the performance of simple refractive null compensators was done. Two types of correctors were studied--the Dall compensator and the Offner compensator. A framework was built for determining whether these simple null tests are adequate for a wide range of aspheric surfaces. Variables involved in determining a surface to be null tested are f-number, conic constant, and focal length. Examples are given on how to determine the best null test for several aspheric surfaces. Also of concern in the design of a null compensator was simplicity. Two elements were the maximum used for both compensators and all compensator surfaces were spherical.

A subaperture configuration to test aspheric optical components or systems is developed. The method developed has potential for testing rotationally symmetric aspheres without the use of null lenses. The aperture is divided into annular subaperture regions and an interferometer is refocused for each region to reduce the fringe density. Essential mathematical treatments involving annular subapertures, such as annular Zernike polynomials, are provided in detail. Numerical and experimental validations of the algorithm are described. Tolerance analyses on subaperture measurements are given. Computer programs were written to link the subaperture Zernike coefficients and to determine the full-aperture Zernike coefficients.