Use of a lateral shearing plate interferometer for verifying diffraction-limited performance of a near-infrared spectrometer

Bernard, Lee, Butler, Nat, Earley, Conor, Gaumant, Johnathan, Hartley, John and Mugnai, Lorenzo V. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9007-9802 2026. Use of a lateral shearing plate interferometer for verifying diffraction-limited performance of a near-infrared spectrometer. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 138 , 075004. 10.1088/1538-3873/ae7cb4

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Abstract

Creating a new observatory or optical system includes the development of an alignment plan, the procedure for assembling parts and subsystems into a fully functioning observatory. Part of developing the alignment plan is choosing which metrology method is the best fit for each step, ideally with an emphasis on reducing cost and complexity. In this paper, we show how lateral shearing interferometry can be used for quick, low-cost verification of diffraction-limited performance of an optical system using a so-called horizontal line test. This horizontal line test does not require numerical methods and is relatively simple to implement, making it a low-complexity and flexible metrological method to include as part of an alignment plan. We discuss the optical theory behind this method, and provide specific examples of aberration testing with both simulated and laboratory demonstrations. We also discuss how linear shearing interferometry can be applied to observatory alignment plans, using the NASA EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope spectrograph as an example of real-life implementation. Overall, the lateral shearing plate horizontal line test is particularly useful in situations where logistics constrain available resources, such as deployment in a remote location like Antarctica.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Physics and Astronomy
Additional Information:	The full author list can be seen here - https://doi.org/10.1088/1538-3873/ae7cb4
Publisher:	IOP Publishing
ISSN:	0004-6280
Date of Acceptance:	12 July 2026
Last Modified:	27 Jul 2026 11:31
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/188469

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