Evaluation of interference patterns in a prism interferometer

Prism interferometers allow a ten times enlargement of the interference increment by means of grazing incidence of the objects's surface. Experiments were performed attempting to use a prism interferometer for measuring both the macro profile and the micro structure of technical surfaces. Because anamorphic elements are used in the prism interferometer, it was necessary to carry out a theoretical analysis of the system's imaging characteristics. An experimental method was suggested and experiments with a prototype system were performed.