Optical wavefront measurement using phase retrieval with transverse translation diversity

We demonstrate the use of transverse translation-diverse phase retrieval as a method for the measurement of wavefronts in situations where the detected intensity patterns would be otherwise undersampled. This technique involves using a smaller moving subaperture to produce a number of adequately sampled intensity patterns. The wavefront is then retrieved using an optimization jointly constrained by them. Expressions for the gradient of an error metric with respect to the optimization parameters are given. An experimental arrangement used to measure the transmitted wavefront of a plano-convex singlet using this technique is described. The results of these measurements were repeatable to within approximately. lambda/100 RMS. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America