Iteration of phase window correlation and least-squares fit for Young's fringe pattern processing

Correlation by means of phase windows that artificially create phase shifts is combined with the least-squares fit to provide a processing algorithm. A Young's pattern is correlated by means of the phase windows to generate four patterns with phase shifts of 0 [degree], 90 [degrees], 180 [degrees], and 270 [degrees]. The phase of the Young's pattern is derived from the four patterns. Then the derived phase is least-squares fitted to a phase plane. The above steps are repeated once to improve accuracy. Speckle noise is suppressed by the correlation operations, as well as a loop including phase calculation, fringe reconstruction, and smoothing. The magnitude and direction of the displacement associated with Young's pattern are determined from the phase plane. The algorithm takes less calculation time than the fast Fourier transform method and does so with improved accuracy. Software has been developed and is used in the experiment. Key words: Young's pattern, phase shift, iteration, least-squares fit.